Podcasts about foreign ministry

Andrew, Ben, and Tom discuss the escalating Iran war with an Iranian strike killing two US service members and injuring others in Jordan, oil rising to the high $80s and gas moving back above $4 over the weekend, Strait of Hormuz traffic grinding to a standstill, potential renewed diplomatic outreach from Iran's Foreign Ministry, the 10-year holding at 4.56%, Domino's earnings shedding light on a stabilizing consumer with US-owned comps improving to +2.1%, and a preview of the packed earnings week including DHI, GEV, GOOG, TSLA, IBM, and Thursday's ECB decision.Join our live YouTube stream Monday through Friday at 8:30 AM EST:http://www.youtube.com/@TheMorningMarketBriefingPlease see disclosures:https://www.narwhal.com/disclosure

President Xi Jinping will set out China's policy positions, vision and proposals on artificial intelligence development and governance at one of the field's most influential international events, to be held in Shanghai this week.Xi will attend the opening ceremony of the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance and deliver a keynote speech, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian announced on Monday.The four-day conference, themed "AI Partnership for a Brighter Future", will run from Friday to Monday.China has invited government officials from around the world, representatives of industry, universities and research institutions, as well as heads of international organizations, to attend the gathering, Lin told a regular news briefing in Beijing.Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul will attend the conference during an official visit to China from Thursday to Monday, Lin said.Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet will attend and address the opening ceremony, according to Cambodia's Foreign Ministry."AI technological innovation is undergoing broad-based breakthroughs and demonstrating unprecedented dynamism," Lin said.Such advances are bringing both opportunities and challenges to the international community, making AI governance "a profound topic of our times", he added.In recent years, China has worked to advance the four global initiatives and the Global AI Governance Initiative proposed by Xi in the field of AI, Lin said.The country has remained committed to providing international public goods, advocating AI for good and for all with real actions, and helping Global South countries strengthen their AI capacity. These efforts have been widely recognized by the international community, he added."Through this conference, China looks forward to building a platform for all parties to enhance mutual trust, build consensus and deepen cooperation," said Lin.He added that China hopes the gathering will promote the sound, safe and orderly development of AI and become "a milestone in the history of AI development".Speaking at a news conference in Shanghai on July 7, Vice-Mayor Chen Jie said that this year's conference was expected to reach a record scale, attracting more than 1,100 companies, displaying over 3,000 exhibits and featuring more than 300 products making their global debut.For the first time, the exhibition area will exceed 100,000 square meters.The intelligent computing and embodied AI sections will each bring together more than 200 companies.Leading technology companies, major State-owned enterprises and top multinational corporations will exhibit alongside their ecosystem partners, showcasing the latest AI-powered applications across a wide range of industries.Shanghai has previously hosted the conference for eight consecutive years since its launch in 2018. Over the years, the event has developed into an important platform for showcasing cutting-edge AI technologies from China and abroad, as well as for deepening international cooperation.

The US and Iran exchanged strikes over the weekend, with the US military targeting 140 Iranian military targets on Saturday and took further action on Sunday, while Iran attacked US bases across the Gulf and closed the Strait of Hormuz.Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson said the US violated all clauses of the MoU in less than a month and stated that Iran will not execute commitments in the MoU as long as the US is not fulfilling its commitments. Furthermore, the spokesperson said mediators are still continuing their efforts to mediate between Iran and the US in recent days and Iran is in contact with mediators. Energy benchmarks pulled back following the constructive rhetoric, Brent +2.3%.US equity futures are off worst levels but the NQ is the clear underperformer, weighed down by the losses in SK Hynix (-15.4%).DXY reverse earlier gains; JPY hit on GPIF chatter, NZD continues to benefit on tightening bets.Looking ahead, highlights include OPEC MOMR (Jul), US Monthly Budget Statement (Jun), Coalition of the Willing Summit, Speakers including Fed's Waller, BoE's Pill, ECB's Schnabel & RBNZ's Conway.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

In April of this year, Israel's Foreign Ministry created a position that had never before existed: special envoy to the Christian world. The appointment came after a string of incidents that have strained Israel's standing with Christian communities: an IDF soldier destroyed a statue of Jesus in Lebanon; during the war with Iran, the Latin patriarch of Jerusalem, Cardinal Pizzaballa, was barred for safety reasons from the Church of the Holy Sepulcher; a nun was assaulted in Jerusalem; and videos of Jewish Israelis despicably spitting on Christians have gone viral on social media. There are not very many of these incidents, thankfully, but each and every one does enormous damage to Israel's standing and contradicts all of the good work that Israel does to keep its Christian minority safe. Aside from the publicity problems that they create, these incidents (with the exception of the protective measures that kept worshippers from Jerusalem's holy places during a ballistic-missile attack) are in and of themselves wrong. That's why they've been so roundly condemned by the highest levels of Israeli government, including by Prime Minister Netanyahu. In response, the foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar has appointed one person to mediate Israel's relationship with the Christian world as a full-time charge. That person is George Deek, a veteran Israeli diplomat, an Arab Christian whose family has lived in Jaffa for hundreds of years, and the first Christian in Israel's history to reach ambassadorial rank, serving in Nigeria, Norway, and finally Azerbaijan before assuming this post. In today's podcast, Ambassador Deek addresses those incidents directly, distinguishing isolated wrongdoing from patterns that demand real institutional response. He lays out an argument about why Israel's bond with the Christian world is simultaneously theological and strategic and delineates his strategy in relation to the major cultural crises of our moment: that the Middle East is losing its ancient minorities at the same time the West is losing its confidence, and that both crises stem from the same failure to answer honestly the question of what went wrong—a failure that too easily curdles into blame, and from blame into anti-Semitism. This episode of The Tikvah Podcast is generously sponsored by Jeffrey Druckman and Erica Goldman in memory of Vicki Frolich. If you are interested in sponsoring an episode of The Tikvah Podcast, we invite you to join the Tikvah Ideas Circle. Visit tikvah.org/circle to learn more and join. 

Good afternoon, I'm _ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening  The Tai-Ex opened down 185 points this morning from yesterday's close, at 46,833, on turnover of 11.8 billion NT. The market closed sharply (大幅地) higher on Wednesday. The main board rose for a second day. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing ended at the day's highest price, after its American depositary receipts made strong gains in overnight (一夜之間的 / 隔夜的) trading. Presidential Order removes top trade representative from office  The Office of the President has issued a Presidential Order formally remove the government's top trade negotiator from office. The move comes after Premier Cho Jung-tai suspended (停職) Yang Jen-ni on Monday. An investigation (調查) found Yang had bullied her late deputy, Yen Huai-shing, at work. Yen died in March at the age of 53, shortly after resigning from her job as the deputy chief of the Office of Trade Negotiations. A Cabinet report said Yang created a difficult workplace for Yen. Yang has repeatedly denied doing anything wrong. She is threatening to take legal action, saying the case has hurt her reputation (名譽). Philippines extends 14-day visa-free entry for Taiwanese travelers The Philippines has extended (延長) its 14-day visa-free entry program for Taiwan passport holders (護照持有人) until June 30, 2027. The Manila Economic and Cultural Office says the move gives Taiwan passport holders the same special treatment (待遇) they received last year. The office says the extension follows the Philippine government's order to give equal visa-free benefits (好處 / 優惠) to Taiwan. That is because Philippine passport holders can also travel to Taiwan without a visa. The Philippines first allowed Taiwan travelers to enter visa-free for up to 14 days on July 1, 2025. The program was originally set to end on June 30 of this year. Qatar declares 'positive progress' in indirect US-Iran talks Qatar's Foreign Ministry says there has been "positive progress" in indirect (間接的) talks between the United States and Iran in Doha. Mediators (調停人 / 調解人) have been moving between the two sides to discuss issues linked to a memorandum of understanding. US President Donald Trump says denuclearisation is "moving along well." But Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi says official talks have not started yet, and working groups are still being formed. The two sides seem to disagree on more than the main issues. They also disagree on whether important topics have even been discussed. Mitch Mccann reports from New York. Ivory Coast floods kill 59 Floods in Ivory Coast have killed at least 59 people this year, according to a government spokesperson. The announcement came after a Cabinet meeting, where officials discussed the high number of deaths. On Monday, heavy rain caused floods and landslides (土石流 / 山崩) in the capitals of Ghana and Ivory Coast. At least 24 people died. The government urged people to follow safety rules and evacuate (疏散 / 撤離) high-risk areas. The World Meteorological Organization says Africa is one of the parts of the world most at risk from extreme weather. But Africa produces only a small share of the world's greenhouse gas emissions (排放). Rising number of whales spotted off Brazil A conservation (保育) group says humpback whales are now seen more often off Rio de Janeiro. It says their numbers are recovering after years of commercial whaling in the past. The Humpback Whale Project says the population (族群數量) has grown from about 2,000 to 35,000 in 40 years. In 1982, the International Whaling Commission ordered a pause in commercial whaling. That pause began three years later. Between June and November, humpback whales move through Brazilian waters. Their return is helping tourism. Some companies now offer whale-watching trips. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Good afternoon, I'm _ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened up 108 points this morning from yesterday's close, at 46,234 on turnover of 19.1 billion N-T. The market went solidly higher on Tuesday. It also saw its third-biggest point rise during a trading day. Investors were again interested in big electronics and semiconductor shares. That helped push the main board higher. MOFA stepping up official document security amid negligence accusation The Ministry of Foreign Affairs says it is taking steps to make its official (官方的) document system safer. The statement comes after a Control Yuan report accused the ministry of poor handling of several possible document leaks (洩漏) in 2024 and 2025. Foreign ministry spokesman Hsiao Kuang-wei says the ministry has been checking its electronic document rules. He says it is also working to make the system safer after finding possible leaks of official papers. The Control Yuan report questioned some of the ministry's earlier responses to the leaked documents. Taipei Metro to accept credit cards and mobile pay starting today And, Passengers (乘客) on the Taipei Metro can use credit cards or digital wallets linked to those cards starting today. Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an announced the new payment (付款) service. He said the move is meant to help Taipei follow international trends. The metro operator says it will accept major international and Taiwan credit cards. It will also accept Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. The change follows the launch (推出) of Q-R code payments in January. That system lets passengers use major electronic payment services to take buses and M-R-T trains in Taipei and New Taipei. Iran refuses direct talks with US in Doha Iran says it will not hold direct talks (直接談判) with the United States in Doha yet. Iran says the current ceasefire agreement must first be fully carried out. Qatar's Foreign Ministry also says Iranian officials and U-S envoy Steve Witkoff will not meet face-to-face on Tuesday. Washington had hoped to use the 60-day talks to pressure Tehran on its nuclear program (核子計畫). But Iran says the main goal is to make sure the U-S-Iran ceasefire continues. Tehran is also calling for a three-country committee to help protect Lebanon's sovereignty as part of the wider peace deal. Nick Harper in Washington says Iran's refusal to talk directly with the American team is making it harder for Washington to deal with the nuclear issue during the 60-day period. Thousands protest immigration in South Africa Thousands of protesters (抗議者) have gathered in South Africa to protest illegal immigration. It is the country's largest protest about migration since 2008. Activists blame migrants (移民) for joblessness and crime. They gave the government until June 30 to remove all migrants staying in the country illegally. But the government rejected the deadline. It says only officials can carry out immigration laws. President Cyril Ramaphosa has called for peaceful protests. Police have sent hundreds of officers to cities such as Johannesburg and Durban to stop violence. Past protests have led to attacks on migrants and damage to property. Thousands of migrants are now leaving South Africa because they fear for their safety (安全). That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

Wednesday, June 24, 2026 Today, Iran's foreign ministry has bucked JD Vance saying they haven't agreed to nuclear inspectors; the ACLU is set to monitor election certification amid Trump's efforts to interfere; the Senate has voted to adopt a War Powers Resolution to stop the Iran war; the Supreme Court sides with the Trump administration on green card holders; government documents show the Trump administration filled the reflecting pool with city water causing the algae bloom; ABC has launched an on-air campaign urging viewers to back them against the FCC; plus Allison and Dana deliver your Good News. Thank You, Smalls For a limited time, get 60% off your first order, plus free shipping and free treats for life, when you head to Smalls.com/DAILYBEANS Join The Daily Beans and give a gift today to ensure The Trevor Project can continue its crucial work in the face of continued challenges.Donate to The Trevor Project - Daily Beans Podcast Guest: Johanna Silva Waki Executive director of Run for SomethingRun For Something - runforsomething.net The Latest Breakdown:The Breakdown | Trump And Trillionaires' Secret Plan To Destroy America StoriesIran's Foreign Ministry says no U.N. inspectors scheduled to visit bombed nuclear sites | MS NOW Senate Votes to Direct End to Iran War, Rebuking Trump on War Powers | The New York Times Immigration case dealing with green card holders, Supreme Court sides with Trump administration | AP News ACLU to monitor election certification as part of $50 million midterm effort | NBC News Trump Says Vandals Sabotaged the Reflecting Pool. Internal Documents Raise Doubts | The New York Times ABC launches on-air campaign urging viewers to back network in Trump agency fights | Reuters   Good TroubleALERT: Oppose House Amendment to Defund the Peace Corps! →trevorproject.org/beans →Comment on FR-6518-P-01 Equal Access  in HUD Programs Revisions  →Triumphal Arch - Section 106 Assessment Draft Programmatic Agreement →Regulation for Federal Financial Assistance -  Open For Comments →Recall Gov. Jeff Landry - Louisianadeservesbetter.com →STOP the deportation of Mohsen Mahdawi - Action Network →detentionwatchnetwork.org →FieldTeam6.org →Standwithminnesota.com →Tell Congress Ice out Now | Indivisible, Defund ICE | 5Calls →Congress: Divest From ICE and CBP | ACLU →ICE List  →iceout.org Good NewsTour — DANA GOLDBERGTickets for Dana Goldberg: Outrageous - Sep 23 - Den Theater - Chicago  GATEWAY LOUNGE | Teresa Trull and Barbara Higbie: Reunion, Pride & CD Release. Opening act Jeannie Tanner. →Share your Good News & Good Trouble - The Daily Beans →Beans Talk audio -beans-talk.simplecast.com →Email Dana LGBTQ Owned eating establishments in your area - hello@mswmedia.com Subject: “Dana's Project” Subscribe to the MSW YouTube Channel - MSW Media - YouTube Harry Dunn is running for CongressHarry Dunn for Maryland Our Donation Links The Trevor Project - trevorproject.org/beans Blue Wave California - bluewavecalifornia.org/concert Donate to Public Citizen - https://citizen.org/beans/ The Daily Beans is donating $10,000 and invites you to give what you can to support their life-affirming work - Donate to It Gets Better / The Daily Beans Fundraiser   Pathways to Citizenship link to MATCH Allison's Donationhttps://crm.bloomerang.co/HostedDonation?ApiKey=pub_86ff5236-dd26-11ec-b5ee-066e3d38bc77&WidgetId=6388736 Join Dana and The Daily Beans in support of Human Rights Campaign http://onecau.se/_ekes71 More Donation LinksNational Security Counselors - Donate, ActBlue.com/donate/msw-bwc, WhistleblowerAid.org/beans Dr. Allison Gill - The Breakdown | Allison Gill, Mueller, She Wrote @muellershewrote.com - Bluesky, MSW & The Daily Beans Podcast @muellershewrote - Instagram, MSW Media - YouTube →Federal workers - email AG at fedoath@pm.me and let me know what you're going to do, or just vent. I'm always here to listen.  Dana Goldberg - Dana is on Patreon! At Dana's Dugout, @dgcomedy - Bluesky, @dgcomedy - IG, Dana Goldberg - Facebook,  DanaGoldberg.com More from MSW Media - Shows - MSW Media, Cleanup On Aisle 45 pod, The Breakdown | Allison Gill Reminder - you can see the pod pics if you become a Patron. The good news pics are at the bottom of the show notes of each Patreon episode! That's just one of the perks of subscribing! patreon.com/muellershewrote Listener Survey:http://survey.podtrac.com/start-survey.aspx?pubid=BffJOlI7qQcF&ver=shortFollow the Podcast on Apple:https://apple.co/3XNx7ckWant to support the show and get it ad-free and early?https://patreon.com/thedailybeanshttps://dailybeans.supercast.com/https://apple.co/3UKzKt0 Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

AP correspondent Charles de Ledesma reports Iran's Foreign Ministry says no visit has been scheduled for U.N. inspectors to visit Iran's bombed nuclear sites.

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei says a scheduled meeting between Iranian and U.S. delegations in Switzerland has been postponed, and planning is underway for another one in the coming days.

The Swiss Foreign Ministry says planned US–Iran talks scheduled for Friday in Switzerland were canceled after US Vice President JD Vance withdrew from a planned trip to meet Iranian negotiators.

Sweden's Foreign Ministry has announced that planned talks between the U-S and Iran have been postponed, new details in the investigation of a south Texas plane crash reveal the pilot radioed the tower before the crash, stating there were mechanical issues with the plane and the Austin City Auditor's Office says in a new report that more than a half-dozen Austin Energy employees violated city policy by using city vehicles for personal use.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For review:1. Cuban lawmakers unanimously approved sweeping reforms backed by the Communist ​Party and former leader Raul Castro that would privatize a vast swath of the country's socialist economy in a bid to survive punishing U.S. sanctions.The ‌measures, if implemented as passed, would represent the single largest change to Cuba's socialist model since former leader Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution and a major shift towards a market economy.2. President Trump on Wednesday signed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the U.S. and Iran ending the war between the two countries.3. Iran will invite the UN's nuclear watchdog agency to inspect its nuclear sites and begin work on identifying and uncovering the locations of Tehran's enriched material, US President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff tells US lawmakers in a private briefing.4. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman warned Thursday that a continued IDF presence in southern Lebanon would mean the “annulment” of the memorandum of understanding it signed with the United States, as Israel doubled down on its plans to keep troops in the area amid its ongoing conflict with the Hezbollah terror group.5. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told NATO Thursday the Pentagon will review its force presence in Europe within six months.“This will be a real review. It will be designed to ensure that NATO is moving fast and irreversibly toward Europe leading, stepping up to take primary responsibility for the defense of Europe,” Hegseth told a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels.6. USAF CCA Update.

Media reports say the US and Iran will meet in Switzerland on Friday. This comes after US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian officially signed a memorandum of understanding to hold talks to end the war.

Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, an in-depth investigatory show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (6/15/26). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth is, or claiming they have the answer, is likely leading you astray, for one reason or another. Stay Vigilant. !function(r,u,m,b,l,e){r._Rumble=b,r[b]||(r[b]=function(){(r[b]._=r[b]._||[]).push(arguments);if(r[b]._.length==1){l=u.createElement(m),e=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0],l.async=1,l.src="https://rumble.com/embedJS/u2q643"+(arguments[1].video?'.'+arguments[1].video:'')+"/?url="+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+"&args="+encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify([].slice.apply(arguments))),e.parentNode.insertBefore(l,e)}})}(window, document, "script", "Rumble");   Rumble("play", {"video":"v795rc0","div":"rumble_v795rc0"}); Source Links (In Chronological Order): 410 Gone The Activation Tour - Nashville, TN with Derrick Broze | Derrick Broze Derrick Broze on X: "The Activation Tour is Coming to Nashville Next Month! As is typical with these events, I will be giving a presentation on Exit and Build strategy and the importance of local community action. I will also be joined by my brother Ryan Cristian @TLAVagabond Stay tuned for https://t.co/Qiz4rbYs1a" / X New Tab Israel's Election Manipulation Ignored, Over $1B To Pfizer For New COVID Shots & Trump's Iran Lies (5) sashalatypova.substack.com "Due Diligence and Art" on X: "Absolute bullshit brought to you by Muppet Tulsi. The Ukrainian "biolabs" have been property of the US DOD since 2005, they were purchased from the USSR bankruptcy sale for $15 million. The agreement is literally on the Ukrainian gov (Rada) website. How much are we, the US" / X (5) Justin Amash on X: "Everyone should be against FISA. With or without Bill Pulte or the SAVE America Act. FISA 702 is unconstitutional. It lets the government search Americans' communications without a warrant. Add a warrant requirement as the Fourth Amendment demands—or leave it expired forever. https://t.co/eTIlcgbs1q" / X Knoxie on X: "Trump is putting his own lawyers in charge of the Epstein files so they can bury whatever they want. His lead criminal defense attorney is already running the DOJ. Another one is being handed SDNY. At the same time, he's moving the guy who helped clean up after Leon Black's https://t.co/YvYLi50A2P" / X Top Pentagon Official Admits Boat Strike May Have Killed Victims of Human Trafficking (5) Ryan Grim on X: "Congressional candidate files a complaint with the local AG, accusing Israel of interfering in his election" / X (5) Thomas Massie on X: "Section 219 (was 224) of the NDAA contains a dangerous provision to integrate our military tech with Israel's. @RepRoKhanna & I submitted an amendment to strike 219. I included the Rules Committee roster here; 7 of 13 members must agree in order for our amendment to get a vote. https://t.co/9SeN7gdvtM" / X New Tab (5) The Cradle on X: "VIDEO | UFC Middleweight Champion Sean Strickland has been charged with disorderly conduct after crashing the UFC Freedom 250 fan fest near the White House on US President Donald Trump's birthday. The fighter says he was not invited due to comments he made about Trump, the https://t.co/GXhVAKj4S8" / X (5) The Last American Vagabond on X: "https://t.co/KVq8yzXmev" / X (5) Aaron Rupar on X: "it's notable to me that the administration tried to frame tonight's UFC event as a "gift to Americans" but you can't watch it unless you have a paid subscription to Paramount+" / X (5) The Last American Vagabond on X: "We are witnessing the end of the #TwoPartyIllusion in real time (and it's profiteers like little Jack here)." / X (5) Tim Pool on X: "WE ARE SO FUCKING BACK" / X (2) Benny Johnson on X: "There has been an energy shift. Did you feel it? We are going to win. Libs have been set back 1000 years by this. They have no answer… And yes, Patriots are in control⚡️

Beijing has criticized Washington for adding several Chinese companies to a list of entities allegedly supporting China's military, urging the United States to "correct its erroneous practices".中方批评美方将多家中国企业列入一份所谓的“涉军”实体清单，并敦促美方“纠正错误做法”。On Monday, the US Defense Department added several major Chinese companies, including Alibaba, Baidu and BYD, to the list, according to US media.据美国媒体报道，美国国防部于6月8日将阿里巴巴、百度、比亚迪等多家中国知名企业列入该清单。Responding at a daily news briefing in Beijing on Tuesday, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said, "China has consistently and firmly opposed the US overstretching the concept of national security and formulating various types of discriminatory lists to go after Chinese businesses.中国外交部发言人林剑6月9日在北京举行的例行记者会上回应称，“中方一贯坚决反对美方泛化国家安全概念，划设各类名目的歧视性清单，无理打压中国企业。"We urge the US to correct its erroneous practices and stop its unwarranted suppression of Chinese enterprises," Lin said.“我们敦促美方纠正错误做法，停止对中国企业的无理打压，”林剑表示。China will take necessary measures to firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, he added.他补充道，中方将采取必要措施，坚定维护中国企业的正当合法权益。According to leading IT news portal TechCrunch, the list — known as the 1260H list, after the specific section of the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act that created it — "is just one tool that the US has used to place restrictions on Chinese tech".据美国知名科技资讯网站TechCrunch报道，这份所谓的“1260H清单”是根据美国《2021财年国防授权法案》第1260H条款设立，“仅仅是美国用来限制中国科技发展的工具之一”。The updated list, which supersedes an earlier 2025 version, now includes a broad swathe of China's top technology companies, according to Reuters.据路透社报道，更新后的清单取代了2025年的先前版本，如今涵盖了中国一大批顶尖科技公司。It also reported that other companies added include biotech enterprise WuXi AppTec, artificial intelligence-driven robotics company RoboSense Technology Co and Unitree, a leading Chinese maker of humanoid and quadruped robots.报道还指出，被新增列入的其他企业包括生物科技企业药明康德、人工智能驱动的机器人公司速腾聚创，以及中国领先的人形与四足机器人制造商宇树科技。Baidu said in a statement to Tech-Crunch that "the suggestion that Baidu is a military company is entirely baseless. We will not hesitate to use all options available to us to have the company removed from the list".百度在给TechCrunch的一份声明中表示，“所谓百度是一家军工企业的说法毫无根据。我们将毫不犹豫地利用一切可用手段将该公司从清单中移除。”Alibaba told TechCrunch that it "is not a Chinese military company nor part of any military-civil fusion strategy", adding that it will take all available legal action against attempts to misrepresent the company.阿里巴巴在给TechCrunch的声明中表示，其“既不是中国军工企业，也未参与任何军民融合战略”，并补充称，将对任何试图歪曲该公司的行为采取一切可用的法律行动。discriminatory list /dɪˈskrɪmɪnətəri lɪst/歧视性清单unwarranted suppression /ʌnˈwɒrəntɪd səˈpreʃən/无理打压1260H list /wʌn tuː sɪks əʊ eɪtʃ lɪst/ 1260H清单（美国防授权法案第1260H条）National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) /ˈnæʃənəl dɪˈfens ˌɔːθəraɪˈzeɪʃən ækt/国防授权法案quadruped robot /ˈkwɒdrʊped ˈrəʊbɒt/四足机器人military-civil fusion strategy /ˈmɪlɪtəri ˈsɪvəl ˈfjuːʒən ˈstrætədʒi/军民融合战略

US President Trump said talks with Iran were continuing at a rapid pace; he thinks he will have an agreement with Iran to extend the ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz over the next week.Iran's Foreign Ministry said the US bears direct responsibility for violations of the ceasefire with Iran and by Israel in Lebanon, adding that a violation on one front was equal to violations on all fronts.The US is in talks to expand nuclear weapon deployments in Europe, according to the FT.Crude futures gradually pulled back overnight following the prior day's rally; fixed income caught a bid overnight.APAC stocks were mixed following the choppy performance stateside; European equity futures indicate a positive cash market open with Euro Stoxx 50 futures up 0.5%.Looking ahead, highlights include EZ CPI (May), JOLTs Job Openings (Apr), RCM/TIPP Economic Optimism, New Zealand Export/Import Prices (Q1), NBP Policy Announcement (Jun). Speakers include Fed's Kashkari & Hammack, BoE's Bailey & Greene, ECB's Vujcic. Supply from the UK & Germany. Earnings from Dollar General, Palo Alto & ULTA Beauty.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

China accused Japan's defense minister on Monday of spreading baseless claims and sowing confusion, urging the international community to stay on high alert to prevent and suppress the rise of Japanese neomilitarism.周一，中方指责日本防卫大臣发表毫无根据的言论、制造舆论混乱，呼吁国际社会保持高度警惕，防范和遏制日本新军国主义抬头。Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian made the statement at a daily news briefing in Beijing, after Japanese Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi recently pledged to keep strengthening the military and rejected Japan being labeled a neomilitarist country at a Singapore forum.日本防卫大臣小泉进次郎近日在新加坡一场论坛上表态，将持续强化军力，并否认日本存在新军国主义倾向。针对该言论，中国外交部发言人林剑在北京例行记者会上作出上述回应。Lin said Koizumi's remarks were totally groundless given historical facts, legal grounds and figures on the matter, adding that such a stance makes it impossible for Japan to earn the trust of its Asian neighbors and the international community.林剑表示，结合历史事实、法理依据和相关数据来看，小泉进次郎的言论完全站不住脚。日方此类表态，根本无法赢得亚洲邻国及国际社会的信任。Japanese militarists committed horrendous crimes in World War II and inflicted untold suffering to its Asian neighbors and Allied nations, Lin said.林剑指出，二战期间，日本军国主义犯下滔天罪行，给亚洲邻国及同盟国人民带来了深重灾难。To prevent the revival of Japanese militarism, a series of instruments with legal effect under international law — including the Cairo Declaration and the Potsdam Proclamation — clearly require Japan to be "completely disarmed" and not to maintain such industries as "would enable her to re-arm for war", he said.他表示，为杜绝日本军国主义死灰复燃，《开罗宣言》《波茨坦公告》等一系列具有国际法效力的文件明确规定，日本必须彻底解除武装，不得保留可用于战时重整军备的工业体系。Despite such restrictions, Japan's latest defense budget has exceeded 9 trillion yen ($56 billion), hitting a record high for 14 consecutive years, he added.他补充道，尽管存在上述国际法约束，日本最新国防预算已突破9万亿日元（约合560亿美元），连续14年创下历史新高。Citing more figures signaling Japan's expanding military buildup, Lin said Tokyo's total defense expenditure has surged to 2 percent of its GDP with plans to further increase it to 3.5 percent, while military orders from the Defense Ministry have tripled over the past five years.林剑列举多项军力扩张相关数据指出，日本国防开支占国内生产总值比重已飙升至2%，且计划进一步提升至3.5%；过去五年，日本防卫省军事订单规模更是增长两倍。Since the current administration came to power in October, it has been accelerating the deployment of intermediate and long-range missiles, easing the export restrictions of lethal weapons, and promoting the revision of its Constitution and three key security documents, he said.他表示，日本本届政府自十月上台以来，持续加速部署中远程导弹、放宽致命性武器出口限制，并推动修改宪法及三份核心安保文件。These actions are seen as attempts to further breach the international and domestic laws and challenge the postwar international order, he added.他补充表示，上述一系列举动，实质上是在进一步突破国内外相关法律约束、挑战战后国际秩序。Regarding Japan's deepened military engagement with NATO, Lin said Japan has been pursuing remilitarization at full throttle, engaging in frequent interactions with a military organization from outside the region, expanding the scope of activities of its Self-Defense Forces, and building a combat-ready operational system.针对日本不断深化同北约的军事合作，林剑指出，日本正全速推进军事化进程，频繁同域外军事组织往来互动、不断拓宽自卫队活动范围、加紧打造实战化作战体系。"This is Japan trying to break free from the constraints of its Constitution, domestic and international laws, and its 'exclusively defense-oriented' principle," he said.他强调：“这恰恰说明日本正谋求挣脱和平宪法、国内外法律以及‘专守防卫'原则带来的束缚。”Japan portrays itself as a "peace-loving country", but its actions move in the very opposite direction, he added.他最后补充，日本嘴上标榜自身是“爱好和平的国家”，实际行动却背道而驰。

Iran's Foreign Ministry has condemned the "flagrant and unjustified" ceasefire violations by the United States in the Strait of Hormuz, noting that these took place despite ongoing diplomatic efforts mediated by Pakistan.伊朗外交部抨击美国在霍尔木兹海峡“明目张胆”违反停火，强调此举发生在巴基斯坦积极调停之际，是对外交努力的公然挑衅。In the latest developments, an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps official said a renewed war with the US is unlikely, but warned that Tehran stands ready to repel any attack, Al Jazeera reported.据半岛电视台报道，最新进展中，一名伊斯兰革命卫队官员表示，与美国再次开战的可能性不大，但警告称，德黑兰已准备好击退任何攻击。"The possibility of war is low because of the enemy's weakness, but the armed forces are lying in wait," said Mohammad Akbarzadeh, a commander of the IRGC Navy.伊斯兰革命卫队海军指挥官穆罕默德·阿克巴尔扎德说：“由于敌人的弱点，战争的可能性很低，但武装部队正在严阵以待。”In a statement issued on Tuesday, reported by Mehr News Agency, the foreign ministry slammed the US Army for continuing its "illegal and unjustifiable actions" since the announcement of the ceasefire on April 8.据梅尔通讯社报道，伊朗外交部在周二发布的一份声明中痛斥美国军队自4月8日宣布停火以来仍旧继续采取“非法且不合理的行动”。The ministry said the US had committed "a flagrant violation of the ceasefire in the Hormozgan region over the past 48 hours", particularly following "multiple instances of maritime piracy against Iranian commercial vessels".外交部表示，美国“在过去48小时内公然违反霍尔木兹甘地区的停火协议”，尤其是在“多次对伊朗商船实施海上海盗行为”之后。The US has said its attacks were defensive in nature, targeting missile sites and boats attempting to lay mines.美国表示，其攻击本质上是防御性的，目标是导弹发射场和试图布设水雷的船只。In his call with Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and other regional leaders, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed Tehran's readiness to establish a "dignified framework" aimed at ending the ongoing fighting and regional tensions.伊朗总统马苏德·佩泽希齐扬在与卡塔尔埃米尔谢赫塔米姆·本·哈马德·阿勒萨尼等地区领导人通话中重申，德黑兰愿打造一个“有尊严的框架”，从而结束当前冲突，缓解地区紧张局势。Pezeshkian spoke with heads of state from several mostly Muslim-majority countries on the occasion of Eid al-Adha.借宰牲节之机，佩泽希齐扬与多国穆斯林领导人进行了电话沟通。He and his Egyptian counterpart, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, exchanged greetings on Tuesday. They also underscored the necessity of Islamic unity and indicated a new chapter in regional relations.5月26日，伊朗总统佩泽希齐扬与埃及总统塞西互致问候。双方强调伊斯兰团结的必要性，此举预示地区关系将开启新篇章。Pezeshkian emphasized the need to strengthen cooperation across the Islamic world and expand bilateral relations between Tehran and Kuala Lumpur in his phone call with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.在与马来西亚总理安瓦尔·易卜拉欣的通话中，佩泽希齐扬强调，有必要加强整个伊斯兰世界的合作，并扩大德黑兰与吉隆坡之间的双边关系。Meanwhile in the US, President Donald Trump was expected to meet with his Cabinet on Wednesday at a precarious moment for talks aimed at ending the conflict with Iran.与此同时，美国总统特朗普预计将于5月27日与内阁会面，此时正值结束伊朗冲突的谈判进入微妙关头。He took to social media on Tuesday to grumble that even if Tehran were to offer a complete surrender, the media would paint the end of the conflict as Iran scoring "a masterful and brilliant victory".他5月26日在社交媒体上抱怨称，即使德黑兰完全投降，媒体也会把冲突的结束描绘成伊朗取得了“一场巧妙而辉煌的胜利”。US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said negotiations between the US and Iran on extending the ceasefire and reopening the Strait of Hormuz will take "a few more days".美国国务卿马尔科·鲁比奥表示，美国与伊朗关于延长停火和重新开放霍尔木兹海峡的谈判将“还需要几天”。According to Iranian sources, an initial deal would end hostilities on all fronts, get traffic moving through the strait within 30 days, and possibly provide some financial relief.据伊朗消息，初步协议将全面结束敌对行动，30天内恢复海峡通航，并可能提供一定经济援助。More difficult issues such as Iran's nuclear program would be negotiated in the second phase. Iran has been allowing some ships through the strait, giving preference to vessels linked to countries with which it has close ties, Reuters has reported.据路透社报道，伊朗核计划等更为棘手的问题将在第二阶段进行谈判。与此同时，伊朗已允许部分船只通行霍尔木兹海峡，并优先放行那些与其关系密切国家的船只。The conflict, which began on Feb 28, has caused an unprecedented oil supply shock, pushing up the costs of fuel, fertilizer and food. Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries about a fifth of global trade in oil and liquefied natural gas, has been a fraction of its usual level since the fighting began.这场始于2月28日的冲突引发了前所未有的石油供应冲击，推高了燃料、化肥及食品价格。霍尔木兹海峡平时承载全球约五分之一的石油与液化天然气贸易，但开战以来，通航量仅剩正常水平的一小部分。The IRGC Navy said in a statement on Tuesday that as many as 25 other ships and oil tankers have been able to transit through the strait in coordination with the IRGC naval forces, Iranian media reported.据伊朗媒体报道，伊斯兰革命卫队海军5月26日在一份声明中称，在与革命卫队海军的协调下，已有多达25艘其他船只和油轮通过海峡。Also on Tuesday, the United Nations Security Council condemned what it said was an "egregious drone attack" that targeted an electricity generator outside the inner perimeter of the Barakah nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates on May 17.5月26日，联合国安理会也对5月17日阿联酋巴拉卡核电站内围外一台发电机遭到的“严重无人机袭击”表示谴责。Strait of Hormuz /streɪt əv hɔːˈmuːz/霍尔木兹海峡mediated by /ˈmiːdieɪtɪd baɪ/由……调停Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) /ɪzˈlæmɪk ˌrevəˈluːʃənəri ɡɑːd kɔː/伊斯兰革命卫队lie in wait /laɪ ɪn weɪt/埋伏，严阵以待lay mines /leɪ maɪnz/布设水雷Eid al-Adha /iːd æl ˈɑːdə/宰牲节underscore /ˌʌndəˈskɔː/强调precarious /prɪˈkeəriəs/不稳定的，微妙的grumble /ˈɡrʌmbəl/抱怨，发牢骚Barakah nuclear power plant /bəˈrɑːkə ˈnjuːkliə ˈpaʊə plɑːnt/巴拉卡核电站

Iran's foreign ministry says US strikes are a "gross violation" of the ceasefire. The BBC's Security Correspondent Frank Gardner spoke to John Campbell.

Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Beijing on Tuesday night for a two-day state visit to China, marking his 25th trip to the country since assuming the presidential office in 2000.俄罗斯总统弗拉基米尔·普京于5月19日晚抵达北京，开始对中国进行为期两天的国事访问。这也是他自2000年就任总统以来第25次访问中国。Prior to his departure, Putin delivered a video address in which he said, "I'm delighted to be visiting Beijing once again at the invitation of my longtime good friend, the President of the People's Republic of China, Xi Jinping."在出发前，普京发表了视频致辞。他在致辞中表示：“我非常高兴应我的老朋友、中华人民共和国主席习近平的邀请，再次访问北京。”On Sunday, both Xi and Putin sent congratulatory letters to the 10th China-Russia Expo, which opened on the same day in Harbin, the capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang province.5月17日，习近平主席与普京总统共同向当天在中国东北黑龙江省省会哈尔滨开幕的第十届中俄博览会致贺信。Russia's TASS news agency quoted Putin as saying in his video address that regular mutual visits and Russia-China top-level talks "are an important and integral part of our joint efforts to promote the entire range of relations between our two countries and unlock their truly limitless potential".据俄罗斯塔斯社报道，普京在视频致辞中表示，定期的互访和俄中高层会谈“是我们共同努力推动两国全方位关系发展、释放两国真正无限潜力的重要且不可分割的一部分”。Bilateral relations today "have reached a truly unprecedented level", Putin said.普京表示，当今的双边关系“已经达到了真正前所未有的高水平”。The special nature of the ties "is reflected in the atmosphere of mutual understanding and trust, in the commitment to pursuing win-win and equitable cooperation, in conducting respectful dialogue, and in supporting each other on matters affecting the core interests of both countries, including protection of sovereignty and state unity", he added.他补充说，两国关系的特殊性“体现在相互理解和信任的氛围中，体现在致力于追求共赢和公平合作的承诺中，体现在开展相互尊重的对话中，以及在涉及彼此核心利益的问题上相互支持，包括维护主权和国家统一”。Putin's visit comes as this year marks the 30th anniversary of the China-Russia strategic partnership of coordination and the 25th anniversary of the signing of the China-Russia Treaty of Good-Neighborliness and Friendly Cooperation.普京总统此访正值中俄建立战略协作伙伴关系30周年、签署《中俄睦邻友好合作条约》25周年这一具有里程碑意义的年份。He said the treaty "laid a solid foundation for a genuinely strategic relationship and comprehensive partnership for the benefit of our countries and our peoples".他表示，该条约“为建立真正的战略关系和全面伙伴关系奠定了坚实基础，造福了两国和两国人民”。Addressing a regular news briefing on Tuesday in Beijing, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said that China and Russia are comprehensive strategic partners of coordination for a new era, and China welcomes Putin's visit.外交部发言人郭嘉昆周二在北京举行的例行记者会上表示，中俄是新时代全面战略协作伙伴，中方对普京总统的访问表示热烈欢迎。During the state visit, the two presidents "will exchange views on bilateral relations, cooperation in various fields, and international and regional issues of mutual interest", Guo said.郭嘉昆介绍说，在国事访问期间，两国元首“将就双边关系、各领域合作以及共同关心的国际和地区问题交换意见”。A survey report on Sino-Russian youth friendship and cultural exchanges, which was released last week by Renmin University of China, showed that 87.5 percent of young people in Russia and 85.5 percent of young people in China view the two countries' relations as "friendly".中国人民大学上周发布的一项关于中俄青年友好与文化交流的调查报告显示，87.5%的俄罗斯青年和85.5%的中国青年认为两国关系“友好”。Guo said the survey is a "true barometer of public opinion" and its findings illustrate the high level of China-Russia ties.郭嘉昆表示，该项调查是“真正的民意晴雨表”，其结果充分印证了中俄关系的高水平。"Under the strategic guidance of President Xi and President Putin, the China-Russia everlasting friendship will enjoy even greater popular support, and the youth in both countries will join hands and inject fresh vitality into our comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era," he added.他补充说：“在习近平主席和普京总统的战略引领下，中俄世代友好将更加深入人心，两国青年将携手并进，为新时代中俄全面战略协作伙伴关系注入新的生机与活力。”According to the Foreign Ministry, the value of bilateral trade reached $227.9 billion in 2025, marking the third consecutive year of the figure exceeding the $200-billion mark.据外交部数据显示，2025年中俄双边贸易额达到2279亿美元，这也是该数字连续第三年突破2000亿美元大关。Tian Dewen, a research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian Studies, said that Putin's visit will help to further consolidate the foundation of bilateral relations, featuring long-term stability, a high degree of mutual trust and deeper cooperation.中国社会科学院俄罗斯东欧中亚研究所研究员田德文表示，普京总统此访将有助于进一步巩固具有长期稳定性、高度互信和深化合作特征的双边关系基础。The visit will also promote the continuous improvement and upgrading of practical bilateral cooperation in areas such as energy and trade, scientific and technological innovation, and global governance, Tian said.田德文指出，此次访问还将推动两国在能源与贸易、科技创新以及全球治理等领域的务实双边合作不断提质升级。Zhang Hanhui, China's ambassador to Russia, said that Xi and Putin are expected to hold an important meeting to chart the course for the development of Sino-Russian ties in the new era.中国驻俄罗斯大使张汉晖表示，预计习近平主席和普京总统的此次重要会晤将为新时代中俄关系的发展指明方向。Under the strategic guidance of the two leaders, the two countries "have built a new type of major-country relationship that transcends traditional military and political alliances", Zhang wrote in an article for the People's Daily newspaper, which was published on Tuesday.张汉晖在5月19日出版的《人民日报》署名文章中写道，在两国元首的战略引领下，两国“构建了超越传统军事和政治同盟的新型大国关系”。The two countries "have set an example of mutual respect, frankness and sincerity, harmonious coexistence, and mutual benefit between major countries and neighboring nations", he said.他表示，两国“树立了大国之间、邻国之间相互尊重、坦诚相待、和谐共处、互利共赢的典范”。Putin, in his video address, said that Russia and China are implementing major initiatives "in key areas of our cooperation", and "our warm and friendly ties enable us to chart the boldest plans for the future and bring them to life".普京在视频致辞中表示，俄中两国正在“关键合作领域”落实重大倡议，“这条温暖友好的纽带使我们能够为未来勾勒出最宏伟的蓝图并将其变为现实”。Also on Tuesday, Vice-Premier Ding Xuexiang met with Russian First Deputy Prime Minister Denis Manturov in Beijing, and the two sides pledged to further strengthen investment cooperation.5月19日，国务院副总理丁薛祥在北京会见了俄罗斯第一副总理丹尼斯·曼图罗夫，双方承诺进一步加强投资合作。Ding called on both countries to give full play to the coordinating role of the China-Russia Investment Cooperation Committee, steadily advance key projects, expand areas of cooperation, achieve more practical outcomes and continue to inject strong impetus into the development of bilateral relations.丁薛祥呼吁双方充分发挥中俄投资合作委员会的协调作用，扎实推进重点项目，扩大合作领域，取得更多务实成果，继续为双边关系发展注入强劲动力。Manturov said that Russia is ready to strengthen strategic alignment with China, enrich the substance of cooperation, actively address issues of mutual concern and continuously raise the level of investment cooperation between the two countries.曼图罗夫表示，俄方愿同中方加强战略对接，富集合作内涵，积极解决双方共同关心的具体问题，不断提高两国投资合作水平。 Equitables /ˈekwɪtəbl/公平合理的，公正的 Everlasting /ˌevəˈlɑːstɪŋ/永恒的，持久的 Barometer /bəˈrɒmɪtə/晴雨表，气压计

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened marginally lower this morning from yesterday's close, at 40,883 on turnover of 11-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Monday, as investors reacted to a decline on Wall Streeet at the end of last week and opted to shun big tech stocks. With analysts saying the decline cames as the market is pulling back from recent record highs and moving into consolidation mode. MOFA talks hopes for Trump to talk with Lai Deputy Foreign Minister Chen Ming-chi says the government would welcome a direct call between U-S President Donald Trump and President Lai Ching-te. The statement comes as Chen told reporters that Trump's recent remarks that arms sales to Taiwan could be used as a bargaining chip with China and he was still undecided on new arms ​sales to the island. Trump also appeared to suggest that he was seeking to speak with Lai about the issue - albeit (雖然，儘管) without actually naming him. According to Chen, Trump's remarks had "caused some unnecessary concern" in Taiwan, despite the ​government believing that "nothing has changed." The deputy foreign minister is also stressing that the government is seeking confirmation from Washington about whether Trump wants to speak to Lai and is also using all available channels to understand what the U-S side is actually thinking. Taiwan students win eight awards at world robotics competition Taiwan students have won eight awards at this year's Robofest World Competition - which took place at the Lawrence Technological University in Michigan. They bagged two gold medals, one silver, and one bronze at the international robotics competition. Dozens of Taiwanese elementary, junior high, and senior high school students competed against teams from 25 countries. Taiwan's representative office in Chicago has presented congratulatory messages to the award-winning students, commending (讚揚) their dedication (奉獻、投注（時間、精力等）) and encouraging them to continue striving for excellence in their future endeavors. Israel Intercepts Flotilla Headed to Gaza The Israeli military has intercepted boats in international waters off the coast of Cyprus, part of a flotilla attempting to break Israel's naval blockade of Gaza. More than 50 vessels departed from Turkey last week. Organizers say the boats were intercepted Monday 250 nautical miles from Gaza's shores. Cypriot authorities confirmed the interceptions on Monday took place outside its territorial waters. Israel's Foreign Ministry called the flotilla a provocation (挑釁) while Turkey condemned the intervention as piracy. The blockade has been in effect since 2007, restricting movement in and out of Gaza. Previous attempts to breach the blockade have failed. Organizers hope to draw attention to Gaza's living conditions. Tanzania's President, Dangote hold talks in Dar es Salaam amid refinery debate Tanzania's President held investment talks in Dar es Salaam amid growing regional competition over a refinery project's location (地點). Isaac Lukando reports. Mexico Uruguay Aid Arrives in Cuba A ship carrying humanitarian aid from Mexico and Uruguay has arrived in Havana to help ease Cuba's spiriling crises. The ship, which left from a Mexican port, includes food and personal hygiene items, according to a government statement. Cuba's food industry minister says the aid arrives during a time of great economic hardship, worsened by the U.S. blockade. The aid will prioritize children, the elderly, and vulnerable (易受影響的，易受傷害的) families. Cuba's economic and electric crises have deepened this year after the U.S. invaded Venezuela in January, halting (停頓) critical oil shipments. A severe gas shortage and widespread blackouts continue across the island. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

In this episode, Richard Pater speaks with Ambassador Amira Oron about Egypt's role in the Middle East. Ambassador Oron outlines Egypt's approach to Hamas, the Palestinian Authority and the Iranian issue. They also discuss Israel-Egypt relations and Turkey's efforts to play a role in Gaza.  Ambassador Amira Oron served for three decades in Israel's Foreign Ministry and dedicated her career to diplomatic activity in the Arab world. She was Israel's Ambassador to Egypt from 2020 to 2024, having previously served in Cairo in the 1990s, later as Head of the Egypt Department at the Ministry. She was also the head of Israel's diplomatic mission in Ankara.

The bullish momentum recently seen in the Chinese market is likely to continue thanks to the structural opportunities provided by the country's rapid adoption of emerging technologies and ongoing economic recovery, said experts.专家表示，中国市场近期的看涨势头有望延续，这得益于中国快速采用新兴技术所带来的结构性机遇以及持续性经济复苏。Their comments were made on Monday after the benchmark Shanghai Composite Index climbed to an 11-year high of 4225.02 points. The Shenzhen Component Index jumped 2.16 percent and the tech-heavy ChiNext in Shenzhen surged 3.5 percent. Combined trading value on the Shanghai, Shenzhen and Beijing bourses topped 3.56 trillion yuan ($520 billion), up nearly 16 percent from the previous trading day.上述评论发表于5月11日。当日，上证综指攀升至4225.02点，创下11年来新高；深证成指上涨2.16%，以科技股为主的创业板指数大涨3.5%。沪、深、京三地交易所合计成交额突破3.56万亿元人民币（约合5200亿美元），较前一交易日放量近16%。A-share listed semiconductor firms fueled the Monday rally, reporting an average daily price gain of 5.01 percent.5月11日的涨势主要由A股半导体上市公司拉动，相关个股当日平均涨幅达5.01%。Fang Jian, manager of the integrated circuit hybrid fund at Yinhua Fund, said the strong performance of Chinese tech companies may have just begun in earnest. The artificial intelligence surge and semiconductor localization will generate enormous investment opportunities in 2026 as chipmakers will see "a big year of orders".银华基金集成电路混合型基金经理方建认为，中国科技股的强势表现或许才刚刚真正启动，人工智能浪潮与半导体国产化将在2026年催生巨大投资机遇，芯片制造商将迎来“订单大年”。On Friday, China's top internet, economic and industry regulators jointly issued a guideline to regulate the application and innovative development of AI agents.5月8日，国家互联网、经济和行业主管部门联合发布指导意见，规范人工智能智能体的应用与创新发展。While foundational models remain the key investment thesis at the current stage, investors are recommended to keep a close eye on power suppliers, companies with deeper and earlier AI adoption, as well as AI enablers that benefit from China's semiconductor localization trend, experts from Morgan Stanley wrote in a report released on Sunday.摩根士丹利专家在周日发布的报告中指出，尽管基础模型仍是当前阶段的核心投资主题，但建议投资者重点关注电力供应商、较早且深入切入AI领域的公司，以及受益于中国半导体国产化趋势的人工智能赋能企业。The development and application of new thematic indices, analysis tools driven by AI innovation and the completion of financial market infrastructure have fueled the Chinese capital market with robust momentum, said David Day, managing director of the London Stock Exchange Group for Asia-Pacific.伦敦证券交易所集团亚太区董事总经理戴介明表示，新型主题指数的开发与应用、AI创新驱动的分析工具以及金融市场基础设施的不断完善，为中国资本市场注入了强劲动力。China's strong economic numbers over the past few months -including exports and industrial production — have provided more confidence to international investors, Thomas Fang, head of China Global Markets at UBS, said during a news briefing on Monday, adding that China is likely to reenter an inflationary cycle in the third quarter.瑞银集团中国全球市场主管房东明5月11日在新闻吹风会上表示，过去几个月中国强劲的经济数据（包括出口和工业增加值）进一步提振了国际投资者的信心。他还预计，中国可能在第三季度重新进入通胀周期。Meng Lei, China equity strategist at UBS Securities, upgraded his forecast for A-share companies' profitability growth rate this year to 11 percent, up from 8 percent at the end of last year. This will serve as one major driver for an A-share bull run throughout 2026, Meng said.瑞银证券中国股票策略师孟磊将其对今年A股公司盈利增长率的预测从去年年底的8%上调至11%。他表示，这将成为2026年A股走牛的主要驱动力之一。Continued capital inflows into the A-share market will be another engine, which will be comprised of household savings directed into wealth management products, recovery in the issuance of mutual fund products, thematic exchange traded funds and high net wealth individuals investing more in private equities or quantitative funds, he added.他补充说，持续的资本流入是A股的另一大引擎。这些资金包括：居民储蓄转向理财产品，公募基金发行回暖，主题ETF（交易型开放式指数基金）扩容，以及高净值个人加大对私募股权或量化基金的投资。Market sentiment was also buoyed on Monday as the Foreign Ministry announced that United States President Donald Trump will pay a three-day state visit to China from Wednesday.5月11日，市场情绪也得到了提振。中国外交部宣布，美国总统唐纳德·特朗普将从5月13日开始对中国进行为期三天的国事访问。The visit, which will take place as scheduled, will directly improve the risk appetite in the A-share market, said Chen Guo, chief strategist of Eastmoney Securities.东方财富证券首席策略师陈果表示，此次访问将如期进行，并将直接改善A股市场的风险偏好。Overall market confidence will be strengthened. Export companies may benefit in anticipation of a marginal easing in tariff tensions. In the event of phased procurement or investment arrangements, a potential sentiment-driven recovery may be seen in companies specializing in cyclical products, power equipment and machinery, Chen said.陈果认为，整体市场信心将进一步增强。出口企业有望受益于关税紧张局势的边际缓和预期。若出现阶段性采购或投资安排，那些主营周期性产品、电力设备和机械的公司或将迎来情绪驱动的反弹。fueled /ˈfjuːəld/推动，助推news briefing /njuːz ˈbriːfɪŋ/新闻吹风会private equities /ˈpraɪvət ˈekwətiz/私募股权mutual fund /ˈmjuːtʃuəl fʌnd/公募基金buoyed /bɔɪd/提振，推高

China announced on Monday its decision not to approve the Taiwan region's participation in this year's World Health Assembly, and criticized the Democratic Progressive Party authorities' attempt to seek "independence" by soliciting external support.中国于5月11日宣布，决定不同意台湾地区参加今年的世界卫生大会，并批评民进党当局企图通过“挟洋自重”谋求“台独”。Taiwan is reportedly yet to receive any invitation to attend the 79th World Health Assembly, which is scheduled to open in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 18.据报道，台湾方面尚未收到参加定于5月18日在瑞士日内瓦开幕的第79届世界卫生大会的邀请。The decision was made to uphold the one-China principle, as well as the seriousness and authority of relevant United Nations General Assembly and WHA resolutions, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a daily news briefing in Beijing.外交部发言人郭嘉昆在京举行的例行记者会上表示，这一决定是为了维护一个中国原则，以及联合国大会和世界卫生大会相关决议的严肃性和权威性。Without the consent of the central government, the region has no basis, reason or right to participate in the WHA, Guo said.郭嘉昆指出，未经中央政府同意，台湾地区没有任何基础、理由或权利参加世界卫生大会。He stressed that the DPP authorities stubbornly adhere to the separatist stance of "Taiwan independence", which has eroded the political foundation for Taiwan's participation in the WHA.他强调，民进党当局顽固坚持“台独”分裂立场，从根本上破坏了台湾地区参与世界卫生大会的政治基础。He said that the region's participation in international organizations, including activities of the World Health Organization, must be handled in accordance with the one-China principle, which is a fundamental principle affirmed by UNGA Resolution 2758 and WHA Resolution 25.1.郭嘉昆表示，台湾地区参与国际组织活动，包括世界卫生组织的相关活动，必须按照一个中国原则来处理，这是联合国大会第2758号决议和世界卫生大会第25.1号决议所确认的根本原则。There is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an inalienable part of China's territory, said Guo, adding that the government of the People's Republic of China is the sole legal government representing the whole of China.郭嘉昆重申，世界上只有一个中国，台湾是中国领土不可分割的一部分。他同时强调，中华人民共和国政府是代表全中国的唯一合法政府。He added that any attempt to violate the one-China principle and engage in political manipulation by playing the "Taiwan card" is doomed to fail.他进一步指出，任何企图违背一个中国原则、通过打“台湾牌”进行政治操弄的行径都注定失败。On the same day, Chen Binhua, spokesman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, said Taiwan's exclusion from the WHA was entirely the result of secessionist political manipulation by the DPP authorities, and reflected their failure in trying to "seek independence through health-related issues".同日，国务院台湾事务办公室发言人陈斌华表示，台湾地区被排除在世界卫生大会之外，完全是民进党当局进行谋“独”政治操弄的结果，也标志着其“以疫谋独”图谋的失败。It once again proves that the international community's commitment to the one-China principle is unshakable, he said.他表示，这再次证明，国际社会坚持一个中国原则的格局不可动摇。For eight consecutive years - 2009 to 2016 — the region participated in the WHA as an observer under the name "Chinese Taipei".从2009年到2016年，台湾地区曾连续八年以“中华台北”名义、观察员身份参加世界卫生大会。According to Chen, this special arrangement was based on both sides of the Taiwan Strait adhering to the 1992 Consensus, which embodies the one-China principle.据陈斌华介绍，这一特殊安排是建立在海峡两岸均坚持体现一个中国原则的“九二共识”基础之上的。He noted that the DPP authorities' deceptive and provocative practices will meet firm opposition from compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, as well as from the international community, and are doomed to fail.他指出，民进党当局的欺骗性、挑衅性行径将遭到海峡两岸同胞及国际社会的坚决反对，注定以失败告终。• Solicit /səˈlɪsɪt/恳求，请求，招揽• Stubbornly /ˈstʌbənli/顽固地，倔强地• Separatist /ˈsepərətɪst/分裂主义的，独立派的• Inalienable /ɪnˈeɪliənəbl/不可分割的，不可剥夺的• Secessionist /sɪˈseʃənɪst/分裂国家的人，主张脱离的

Beijing said on Monday that it was ready to work with the United States to expand cooperation, manage differences and inject more stability and certainty into a turbulent and changing world as it confirmed that US President Donald Trump will pay a three-day state visit to China starting from Wednesday.According to Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun, President Xi Jinping will hold in-depth exchanges with Trump on issues concerning China-US relations as well as major issues related to world peace and development.The visit will mark Trump's first trip to China during his second term in office and the first visit to China by a US president in nine years.Noting that head-of-state diplomacy has played an irreplaceable strategic guiding role in China-US relations, Guo told a regular press briefing that China is willing to work with the US in the spirit of equality, respect and mutual benefit to expand cooperation, manage differences and provide more stability and certainty for a transforming and volatile world.Since Trump secured re-election in November 2024, the two heads of state have spoken five times over the phone and held one face-to-face meeting, maintaining regular communication as Beijing and Washington seek to keep bilateral relations on a stable track.Speaking on a television program on Sunday, Trump said that he was looking forward to visiting China again and believed the upcoming trip would be "amazing", adding that his relationship with President Xi was "very good".Su Xiaohui, deputy director of the Department for American Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, said head-of-state diplomacy has consistently served as the "anchor" of China-US relations.Direct communication between the two leaders, she said, can help both sides better understand each other's intentions, avoid miscalculation, grasp the overall direction of bilateral ties and explore ways to build a relationship that is strategic, constructive and stable.Diao Daming, a professor at Renmin University of China, said that given the complexity of China-US relations, the significance of Trump's visit lies not in resolving all issues at once, but in whether the two sides can use top-level communication to address each other's concerns and send more positive signals to the world.Washington should view China objectively, develop a rational perception of China and work with Beijing in the same direction, rather than approach bilateral ties from a position of strength, he added.Diao said that both sides should expand areas of cooperation, reduce the list of problems, and ensure that economic and trade ties continue to serve as a ballast and driver of bilateral relations rather than a source of friction and conflict.Regarding the technological landscape, experts have pointed out a current "truce" that offers a window for structured dialogue.Martin Chorzempa, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics, said during an event last week that "the technology front looks relatively calm compared to past administrations".Chorzempa suggested that high-level engagement could help cement this atmosphere, noting that many restrictive measures have been "walked back or paused" over the last year as both nations seek to avoid further escalation.Sourabh Gupta, a senior fellow at the Institute for China-America Studies, told China Daily that extending the trade and technology truces established at earlier high-level meetings remains a top priority.He suggested that setting a clear framework for conversation is vital for creating a stable environment throughout the current administrative terms. He added that artificial intelligence has emerged as a significant area where both nations recognize a mutual interest in risk management.Scott Kennedy, senior advisor and trustee chair in Chinese business and economics at the US-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, said during a news briefing earlier that the current trajectory reflects a period of relative confidence. He said that as the two sides prepare for senior-level dialogues, "China has the right to be confident that they are doing very well bilaterally". He added that as long as the trajectory remains stable, the outcome favors bilateral health.While both sides are seeking to expand cooperation, managing differences and sensitive issues — particularly the Taiwan question — is also expected to be high on the agenda.During a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in late April, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said the Taiwan question concerns China's core interests and remains the biggest risk in China-US relations. He urged Washington to honor its commitments, make the right choice and create new space for bilateral cooperation while making due efforts for world peace.Bonny Lin, director of the China Power Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that stability in the overall relationship is predicated on mutual understanding. Referring to official positions, Lin pointed out that fulfilling international obligations on this question is viewed as "a necessary prerequisite for the stable, sound and sustainable development of China-US relations". Experts suggest that maintaining clear communication on these foundational concerns remains essential for avoiding miscalculations.

2026-05-11 | UPDATES #199 | While Zelenskyy was signing satirical decrees, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova were performing the other half of the regime's choreography: the threat.The Russian Foreign Ministry, captured by Pravda EN, RFE/RL, the Washington Times, and TASS, issued what RFE/RL called "a belligerent warning to Kyiv, and diplomatic missions there" — threatening to "attack the Ukrainian capital if Ukraine did in fact disrupt the May 9 events." The Foreign Ministry advised foreign embassies and international organisations located in Kyiv to evacuate their offices in case of such a strike. The Defence Ministry urged civilians to evacuate as well. Moscow is a thug and a bully, and these threats are completely in character. ----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------ACTIVE CAMPAIGN:We are raising funds for 5 of 15 Vampire DronesSilicon Curtain for Kupiansk Vampires. Dzyga's Paw, together with Jonathan Fink, is joining forces to raise $40,000 to provide the Khartiia Brigade with Vampire Drones.https://dzygaspaw.com/silicon-curtain-for-kupiansk-vampiresThese heavy bombers are designed to destroy manpower and equipment, as well as for remote mining. The Vampire UAV, manufactured by Skyfall, has proven itself to be one of the most effective weapons in the Kupiansk direction. Skyfall is one of Ukraine's largest defense tech companies, producing Vampire bomber drones, various modifications of Shrike FPV drones, P1-SUN, Shahed drone interceptors, communication systems, and components.----------PLEASE HELP ME ME TO GROW SILICON CURTAINWe are planning our events for 2026, and to do more and have a greater impact. After achieving more than 12 events in 2025, we will aim to double that! 24 events and interviews on the ground in Ukraine, to push back against weaponized information, toxic propaganda and corrosive disinformation. Please help us make it happen!----------SOURCES: Ukrainska Pravda — "Ukraine officially allows Russia to hold Victory Day parade in Moscow: Zelenskyy signs decree" (8 May 2026) Mediaite — "Zelensky Trolls Putin By Announcing Ukraine Will Honor Ceasefire for Moscow Parade — By Including Exact Military Coordinates" (8 May 2026) Mezha — "Zelenskyy allows Moscow parade and excludes Red Square from weapons plan" (8 May 2026) RBC-Ukraine — "Zelenskyy allows a parade in Moscow on May 9" (8 May 2026) LIGA.net — "Zelenskyy's decree allows parade to be held in Moscow" (8 May 2026) Euronews — "Trump announces three-day of ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia" (8 May 2026) Washington Times / AP — "What Russia's low-key Victory Day celebrations reveal about Putin and the war in Ukraine" (8 May 2026)Pravda EN / English Pravda — "Lavrov Warns of 'No Mercy' for Attempts to Disrupt Victory Day Celebrations" (7-8 May 2026) Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty — "Ukraine Says It Hit Russian Caspian Sea Warship; Kremlin Boosts Security For May 9 Victory Day" (7 May 2026) TASS / Pravda Armenia — "From a briefing by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, M.V.Zakharova" (7 May 2026) Pravda Trump — Yuri Baranchik commentary (7 May 2026) ----------

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 48-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 41,886 on turnover of $11-billion N-T. The market continued to rally on Thursday - with the main board briefly surpassing the 42,000-point mark for the first time to hit yet another new intraday high, as investors were buoyed by hopes the Strait of Hormuz will soon reopen to shipping. Government seeking separate, tougher penalties for drug driving Transport Minister Chen Shih-kai says the government is considering treating drug-impaired driving as a distinct offense separate from drunk driving - potentially leading to harsher penalties. According to Chen, officials from the transport and interior ministries are scheduled to meet next Monday to discuss possible amendments to current laws, including tougher penalties and joint liability provisions for drug-impaired driving. Chen says while drug use itself is already a criminal offense, driving a vehicle under the influence of narcotics - especially when it results in injury or death - should carry tougher penalties than drunk driving. The statements come amid growing concern over a recent spate of (一連串) serious traffic accidents involving drivers under the influence of narcotics. Those incidents include a drug-driving crash on May 4 that resulted in the deaths two people. Several lawmakers have voiced their support for criminal liability for drug driving to be made different from that for drunk driving. Iran Creates Gov Agency to Control Tax Vessels in Strait Iran has created a government agency to control and tax vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz. That's according to the shipping data company Lloyd's List Intelligence, which reported the move Thursday. The Iranian effort to formalize control over the channel raised new concerns about international shipping as hundreds of commercial ships remained bottled up (圍困，困住) in the Persian Gulf, unable to reach the open sea. A spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry said officials in Tehran are still reviewing messages from Pakistan, which is mediating peace proposals between the Islamic Republic with the U.S. Court strikes down Trump 10% global tariffs A US federal trade court has struck down President Donald Trump's global 10% tariff, declaring it illegal. The White House imposed (強制實行,) the rate in February after the Supreme Court ruled against the administration's Liberation Day tariffs. Nick Harper reports from Washington. El Salvador News Outlet Assets Froze Salvadoran investigative news outlet El Faro has announced that its members' assets have been frozen. The outlet on Thursday accused the government of President Nayib Bukele of escalating political persecution. El Faro has clashed (不相容，相牴觸) with Bukele over its investigations into corruption, including alleged negotiations with gangs. Bukele, who came to power in 2019 on an anti-corruption platform, has faced criticism for cracking down on dissent. The outlet learned of the asset freeze through a bank and property registry. El Faro has been audited (查賬目) since 2020 over alleged tax evasion, which it denies. Many of its members now live in exile. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 單身租屋族有機會免繳稅？ 幼兒、長照扣除額有感大升級 《十樂不設

It's Thursday, May 7th, A.D. 2026. This is The Worldview in 5 Minutes heard on 140 radio stations and at www.TheWorldview.com.  I'm Adam McManus. (Adam@TheWorldview.com) By Jonathan Clark German authorities upset with Christian YouTubers Officials in Germany are investigating two Christian YouTubers for criticizing Islam. The two young men, Niko and Tino, run a YouTube channel called Eternal Life. They published a video titled “Islam is no peace” in 2024.  The Hamburg Public Prosecutor's Office is now investigating both of them for allegedly violating Article 166 of the German Criminal Code. Violations are punishable by up to three years in prison.    Tino told Apollo News last month, “I don't understand what they're trying to investigate. … People shouldn't have to be afraid to express their opinions and profess their faith in Jesus Christ.”  Israel created Special Envoy to Christians over lost credibility The government of Israel created a position of Special Envoy to the Christian World last month. Israel's ties with Christians churches have deteriorated after several recent incidents. In one case, Israeli soldiers destroyed a statue of Jesus in southern Lebanon. In another, Israeli police prevented services at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday during the Iran war.  Israel also wants to build ties with young Christian leaders and influencers. The Foreign Ministry plans to bring thousands of these leaders to the country by the end of this year.   Vivek Ramaswamy won Ohio GOP primary for governor In the United States, Ohio and Indiana held primary elections on Tuesday.  Tech billionaire Vivek Ramaswamy won the Republican primary for governor of Ohio. RAMASWAMY: “We have an historic opportunity to lead Ohio to be the top state in the country, to raise a young family, to give our kids a world class education, and to be the state where we revive this quaint idea that we call the American dream. “And tonight that is very personal to me. My parents came halfway around the world to Cincinnati, Ohio, half a century ago, with nothing to their name. I went to public schools through eighth grade because private schools were not on the table for us. I went to St. X for high school. “My dad worked for a five-figure salary for most of his career at the G.E. plant right off I-75 in Evendale. My mom worked at the V.A. taking care of nursing home patients as well. “And now, after having founded thankfully successful businesses, in a position to call myself the Republican nominee for governor in the very state where I was born and raised. That is the American Dream that makes American exceptionalism possible. I know that American dream exists because I have lived it in this state.” Vivek Ramaswamy will face Democrat Amy Acton in November to replace current Republican Governor Mike DeWine. In Indiana, President Donald Trump endorsed seven challengers to state senators who opposed his redistricting plan. A majority of those Trump-backed candidates won their primaries.   Illinois dropped pro-abortion amendment from ballot Officials in Illinois recently dropped a pro-abortion amendment from this year's ballot measures. The amendment would have enshrined the murder of unborn babies as a right in the state's constitution. The Chicago Tribune described the development as a “rare pro-life victory” in the pro-abortion state. Despite this, LifeSiteNews notes, “Illinois is the leading national hub providing abortions for women who live in states where abortion is banned.” Americans fear running out of money more than dying Americans are more afraid of running out of money than they are of dying. That's according to a new study by Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America. The survey found that 67% of Americans say they worry more about running out of money than death. That's up 10 percentage points from 2022.  Not surprisingly, a recent Gallup poll found that the top financial concern of American families is the high cost of living.  In Matthew 6:33-34, Jesus said “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” CNN founder Ted Turner has died Ted Turner, the founder of CNN, died yesterday at the age of 87. The Ohio-born businessman revolutionized television news. At CNN, he started the first 24-hour cable news channel. The network wrote yesterday, “Turner was also an internationally known yachtsman; a philanthropist who founded the United Nations Foundation; an activist who sought the worldwide elimination of nuclear weapons; and a conservationist who became one of the foremost landowners in the United States.” Turner was married and divorced three times. He endorsed Democrat Hillary Clinton in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. He was also known for making derogatory remarks about Christians and pro-lifers.  In a July 1989 Los Angeles Times article, Ted Turner called pro-lifers “bozos” and laughably claimed that pro-lifers believe that “sex was sinful.”  He also said, “A total population of 250-300 million people, a 95% decline from present levels, would be ideal.” More GenZers claim to be Christians and read their Bibles And finally, Dr. George Barna released new research on the spirituality of Gen Z, the youngest adult generation in America. The report found that more members of the generation are claiming to be Christians. That figure is up five percentage points over the past four years. Similarly, weekly Bible reading is up 10 percentage points.  However, Gen Z also has the lowest biblical worldview level of any American generation.  Dr. Barna said, “Our research indicates that many young adults are seeking an authentic Christian experience, initially through religious practices, such as attending church services. Many of them are attempting to evaluate what Christianity has to offer without understanding the biblical principles that promote and support those religious practices.” Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Close And that's The Worldview on this Thursday, May 7th, in the year of our Lord 2026. Follow us on X or subscribe for free by Spotify, Amazon Music, or by iTunes or email to our unique Christian newscast at www.TheWorldview.com.  Plus, you can get the Generations app through Google Play or The App Store. I'm Adam McManus (Adam@TheWorldview.com). Seize the day for Jesus Christ.

７日、ソウルで開かれた安全保障対話に臨む加野幸司防衛審議官、船越健裕外務事務次官、韓国の朴潤柱外務第１次官、李斗熙国防次官【ソウル時事】日韓両政府は７日、外務・防衛当局による安全保障対話をソウルの韓国外務省で開いた。 Japan and South Korea held their first vice ministerial security talks in Seoul on Thursday, reaffirming the importance of bilateral ties and trilateral cooperation with the United States, South Korea's Foreign Ministry said.

China has urged all peace-loving countries to remain highly vigilant and firmly resist Japan's neo-militarist moves, after the latter took its latest step toward revising three key security-related documents as part of a broader push to accelerate its military buildup under the pretext of strengthening deterrence.Lin Jian, a spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry, made the remarks at a daily news briefing in Beijing on Tuesday, a day after Japan convened its first expert panel meeting to advance the revision of the documents, which are expected to be updated by the end of the year.According to reports, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told the meeting that Japan should draw lessons from the Ukraine crisis and the conflict in the Middle East, adapt to "new forms of warfare", including the use of drones, and prepare for a "long-term conflict".Lin pointed out that Japan, which has launched wars and invaded other countries in the past, is now playing up so-called tensions. "Is Japan seeking to repeat the mistakes of history, race down the path of remilitarization and once again become a source of trouble in East Asia?"Japan's recent dangerous and provocative moves in the military and security fields — from its long-standing "exclusively defense-oriented policy" to its declaration to "prepare for a long war" — have dented its self-proclaimed image of being a peaceful country, Lin said.He noted that Japanese militarism pursued rampant aggression and expansion in the past, committing heinous crimes against China and other Asian neighbors, while also inflicting deep suffering on the Japanese people.He added that many insightful people have observed that recent remarks made by some Japanese politicians sound more like warmongering, closely resembling the rhetoric of Japanese militarists in the past.To prevent the resurgence of Japanese militarism, a series of documents with full legal effect under international law — including the Cairo Declaration, the Potsdam Proclamation and the Japanese Instrument of Surrender — required Japan to remain "completely disarmed" and to not maintain industries that could allow its rearmament for war.The Japanese Constitution also places strict limits on the country's military capabilities, its right of belligerency and its right to wage war.This year marks the 80th anniversary of the beginning of the Tokyo trials, which held Japanese leaders accountable for war crimes committed during World War II.And yet, Japan has not only failed to seriously reflect on its past wars of aggression, but is also attempting to pursue military expansion, Lin said, adding that the international community will never allow that.Also on Tuesday, China expressed its strong indignation and stern condemnation of visits made to the Yasukuni Shrine by 166 Japanese national and local lawmakers.Their visits follow Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi's recent ritual and cash offerings to the notorious shrine, which is a symbol of Japanese militarism and wartime aggression and honors Japanese militarists, including 14 convicted Class-A war criminals.Lin, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, denounced these moves, saying they blatantly trample on historical justice and human conscience, as well as challenge the outcomes of WWII and the postwar international order.Eighty years ago, the international community, with overwhelming iron-clad evidence, passed its judgment on Japan's crimes of aggression, tried and sentenced its Class-A war criminals, upheld the victory in the World Anti-Fascist War and safeguarded international justice, Lin said.However, some Japanese politicians and right-wing forces, instead of reflecting on history and correcting the wrongdoings, repeatedly visit the war shrine in an attempt to reverse the verdict on Japan's aggression, whitewash its war crimes and revive militarism, he said."The Chinese people and people elsewhere who suffered under Japanese aggression will never accept that, neither will anyone in the world who stands for peace," Lin added.

Good afternoon, I'm _____ with today's episode of EZ News. Tai-Ex opening The Tai-Ex opened down 345-points this morning from yesterday's close, at 39,176 on turnover of 19.3-billion N-T. The market lost ground on Tuesday after selling set in just off the 40,000-point mark as investors remained cautious ahead of key U-S tech earnings this week. KMT-TPP alliance backs Lee Shu-chuan for New Taipei mayoral race Former Taipei Deputy Mayor Lee Shu-chuan of the K-M-T has been selected as the joint nominee for New Taipei mayor after beating Taiwan People's Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang in a poll conducted by the two parties. The results found Lee leading D-P-P candidate Su Chiao-hui in both surveys Lee says the results marked "the beginning of responsibility" and he's pledging (保證) to honor agreements between the K-M-T and the T-P-P - including incorporating policy proposals put forward by Huang. While Huang is pledging his full support for Lee's campaign, saying the process reflected democratic values through dialogue and fair competition. High speed rail to install platform doors at all stations The High Speed Rail Corporation has announced plans to install platform screen doors at all of its stations. According to the company, construction is underway at its Hsinchu and Banqiao stations - where the new screen doors are expected to be operational (運作中的) in the fourth quarter of this year. Screen doors will be next installed at Taichung, Taoyuan, Miaoli, Changhua, Yunlin, Chiayi and Tainan stations. Full installation of platform screen doors across the network is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2028 The project is costing the corporation about 2-billion N-T. Ukraine Accuses Israel of Allowing Russia Imports of Stolen Grain Ukraine is accusing Israel of allowing the import of grain it claims Russia stole from occupied areas. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says a vessel carrying grain arrived at an Israeli port, calling the trade illegal and warning of sanctions. Israel denies the vessel entered the port, although tracking shows it in Haifa for days. Israel's foreign minister dismissed (不理會，不考慮) the comments as "Twitter diplomacy” and says Ukraine hasn't provided enough information. kraine's Foreign Ministry says more vessels have arrived with grain it describes as stolen. Kyiv urges Israel to stop these imports, warning it could harm relations between both countries. Taylor Swift concert terror plotter stands trial A man accused of plotting a terror attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Austria is set to stand trial from today. The 21-year-old is alleged to have planned to target a venue in Vienna in August 2024. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted (被定罪的). Europe correspondent William Denselow reports Australia Proposes News Tax on Digital Giants Australia is proposing to tax digital giants Meta, Google and TikTok a proportion of their revenue (收入) to pay for news reporters. The government released draft legislation Tuesday that it intends to introduce to Parliament by July. It would create a financial incentive (財務誘因) for the social media companies to strike deals with news organizations to pay for journalism. The platforms' have said the proposal was a “digital services tax” that misunderstood the evolving advertising industry and would fail to deliver a sustainable news sector. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says a monetary value needs to be attached to journalists' work. That was the I.C.R.T. EZ News, I'm _____. －－－－以下為 SoundOn 動態廣告－－－－ 新加坡，開啟最過癮的海陸雙享假期！ 蘋果旅遊 推出新加坡與郵輪專案，結合新加坡城市魅力與豪華郵輪體驗，迪士尼探險號或雲頂夢號任你選，一次滿足海陸度假享受，詳情請洽蘋果旅遊！

US President Donald Trump said Tuesday he will extend the ceasefire with Iran as the current two-week truce is set to expire on Wednesday night.美国总统特朗普21日表示将延长对伊朗停火协议，原定为期两周的停火将于“华盛顿时间22日晚”到期。"Based on the fact that the Government of Iran is seriously fractured, not unexpectedly so and, upon the request of Field Marshal Asim Munir, and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, of Pakistan, we have been asked to hold our Attack on the Country of Iran until such time as their leaders and representatives can come up with a unified proposal," Trump wrote on Truth Social.特朗普在"真实社交"平台发文称："鉴于伊朗政府目前处于严重分裂状态（这并不令人意外），且应巴基斯坦陆军参谋长阿西姆·穆尼尔元帅与总理夏巴兹·谢里夫的请求，我们已同意暂缓对伊朗发动军事打击，直至该国领导人及代表能提出统一方案。"The US president said he will "extend the ceasefire until such time as their proposal is submitted, and discussions are concluded, one way or the other."特朗普表示将"延长停火期，直至伊方提交方案并且完成谈判，无论最终结果如何。"。The US military will continue the blockade against Iran and "remain ready and able," Trump said.他同时强调美军将继续对伊朗实施海上封锁，"保持战备状态"。Trump said on Monday that it was "highly unlikely" for him to extend the truce, and on Tuesday morning he told US media that he doesn't want to do that, expecting the United States to "end up with a great deal" with Iran while threatening to bomb Iran again if no deal is reached.值得注意的是，特朗普20日曾声称"极不可能"延长停火，21日早间还对美媒表示不愿延期，期待美伊能"达成重大协议"，同时威胁若协议未果将再度空袭伊朗。US Vice President JD Vance, whose trip to Pakistan for talks with Iran has been put on hold, was at the White House for meetings on Tuesday, along with Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff and son-in-law Jared Kushner, multiple media outlets reported.据多家媒体报道，因赴巴基斯坦与伊方会谈行程推迟，美国副总统万斯21日现身白宫参与会议，与会者包括总统特使威特科夫及总统女婿库什纳。US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth arrived at the White House on Tuesday afternoon to join discussions over Washington's next steps, according to the reports.国务卿鲁比奥与国防部长赫格塞思当日下午亦抵达白宫，共同商讨美方下一步行动。The United States violated the ceasefire by starting a naval blockade of Iran's ports, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday on X.伊朗外长阿拉格齐21日在X平台指责美方"通过启动对伊港口海上封锁破坏停火协议"。Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told state TV late Tuesday that Iran has not yet decided whether to join fresh peace talks since it was upset about what he called mixed messages from Washington.伊外交部发言人巴加埃当晚向国家电视台表示，因不满华盛顿方面释放的矛盾信号，德黑兰尚未决定是否参与新一轮和谈。"It is not out of indecisiveness, it is because we are facing contradictory messages and behaviors, and unacceptable actions from the American counterpart," Beghaei said.巴加埃强调："这并非犹豫不决，而是因为美方言行不一且采取不可接受的行动。"As US forces have intercepted and taken custody of an Iranian-flagged cargo ship on Sunday and Iran has not yet announced its decision to send a negotiating team for talks, the prospect of an expected second round of US-Iran talks remains unclear, according to media reports.据媒体报道，随着美军19日扣押一艘悬挂伊朗国旗的货船，加之伊朗尚未宣布派遣谈判代表团，外界预期中的美伊第二轮会谈前景仍不明朗。expire /ɪkˈspaɪər/到期 届满fracture /ˈfræktʃər/破裂 断裂put on hold /pʊt ɒn hoʊld/暂停 搁置naval blockade /ˈneɪvəl blɑːˈkeɪd/海上封锁 海军封锁indecisiveness /ˌɪndɪˈsaɪsɪvnəs/犹豫不决 优柔寡断intercept /ˌɪntərˈsept/拦截 截获take custody of /teɪk ˈkʌstədi ʌv/扣押 拘管

Today's top stories, with context, in just 15 minutes.On today's podcast:1) President Trump and Iranian officials offered disparate views on the next stage of the war, casting uncertainty over whether the two sides would meet for peace talks with a ceasefire set to expire in the coming days. Tensions in the war ratcheted up over the weekend as the US Navy fired upon and boarded an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Oman, the first seizure in the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. That critical waterway for energy shipments remained closed early Monday after confusion over the weekend about whether tankers could transit the strait. Iran had initially said ships could pass before abruptly stopping traffic through the waterway less than 24 hours later. At a weekly press conference Monday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said there are "no plans for the next round of negotiations, and no decision has been made in this regard.”2) Oil jumped, pushing US stocks and Treasuries lower after a turbulent weekend in the Middle East cast doubt on the prospects for peace talks ahead of a looming ceasefire deadline. Brent rose 5.4% above $95 a barrel as the US Navy carried out its first seizure of an Iranian vessel in the Strait of Hormuz. Futures for the S&P 500 fell 0.5%, with the benchmark poised to snap a five-day winning streak during which it notched a succession of highs. European stocks declined 1%, while the technology sector drove gains in Asia. The dollar was little changed. Bond yields rose sharply in Europe, whereas moves in Treasuries were more modest. Gold dropped below $4,800 an ounce.3) A man in Louisiana killed eight children, including seven of his own, in a domestic shooting that unfolded across two homes in Shreveport early Sunday, leaving a community in shock and prompting a large police response. The gunman, identified as Shamar Elkins, 31, also critically wounded two women before being killed by officers after a pursuit. Police said the victims, ages 3 to 11, were found in a single residence, with at least one child attempting to escape from the roof. Authorities said the case appears to stem from a domestic dispute and remains under investigation. It is the deadliest U.S. mass shooting in more than two years.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sara Firth, Foreign correspondent based in Washington DC, discusses reports of attempts to bring the Middle East war to a temporary halt.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry says Tehran has finalized its demands to end the war in the Middle East, but will not bow to pressure as to when it will reveal them.

U.S. President Donald Trump, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on March 29, said talks with Iran are ongoing and making “very good” progress. He urged Tehran to take the deal or face destruction of its critical infrastructure. A spokesperson for Iran's Foreign Ministry denies negotiations are taking place.Transportation Security Administration agents are expected to be paid again soon after Trump signed a presidential memorandum last week that would allow them to get paid despite the Department of Homeland Security shutdown, which is now officially the longest in history, with no end in sight.

In this exclusive and wide-ranging Zeteo interview, Mehdi presses a senior Iranian official – Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei, who was involved in last month's nuclear meetings in Geneva – on the state of the war, the future of negotiations, Iran's human rights record, and more. SUBSCRIBE TO ZETEO TO SUPPORT INDEPENDENT AND UNFILTERED JOURNALISM: https://zeteo.com/subscribe WATCH 'MEHDI UNFILTERED' ON SUBSTACK: https://zeteo.com/s/mehdi-unfiltered FIND ZETEO: Twitter: https://twitter.com/zeteo_news Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/zeteonews TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@zeteonews   FIND MEHDI: Substack: https://substack.com/@mehdirhasan Twitter: https://twitter.com/@mehdirhasan Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/@mehdirhasan TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mehdirhasan   To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://advertising.libsyn.com/Zeteo  

Welcome to The Daily Wrap Up, an in-depth investigatory show dedicated to bringing you the most relevant independent news, as we see it, from the last 24 hours (3/24/26). As always, take the information discussed in the video below and research it for yourself, and come to your own conclusions. Anyone telling you what the truth is, or claiming they have the answer, is likely leading you astray, for one reason or another. Stay Vigilant. !function(r,u,m,b,l,e){r._Rumble=b,r[b]||(r[b]=function(){(r[b]._=r[b]._||[]).push(arguments);if(r[b]._.length==1){l=u.createElement(m),e=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0],l.async=1,l.src="https://rumble.com/embedJS/u2q643"+(arguments[1].video?'.'+arguments[1].video:'')+"/?url="+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+"&args="+encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify([].slice.apply(arguments))),e.parentNode.insertBefore(l,e)}})}(window, document, "script", "Rumble");   Rumble("play", {"video":"v75e3ly","div":"rumble_v75e3ly"}); Source Links (In Chronological Order):  (18) Carey on X: "It's actually insane how many people believe this lie about the war in Iran.

China has warned of an unmanageable situation in the Middle East if the war continues to escalate. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian again called for an end to military operations.

A senior Iranian official said the new Supreme Leader rejected proposals that were sent to Iran's Foreign Ministry by two intermediary countries, with the Leader stating it is not the right time for peace and that the US and Israel must be defeated.Israeli Defence Minister Katz said Iran's Top Security Chief Larijani was killed in the airstrike; Iran has not confirmed the status of Larijani.Crude gains in choppy trade as the Iranian war continues; metals move with the dollar.European bourses are mixed, Neste lifts the Utilities sector; US equity futures fall following Nvidia's GTC event.DXY muted, G10s mixed while AUD outperforms after the RBA hiked rates.Fixed income continues to be driven by energy and geopolitics.Looking ahead, highlights include US ADP Employment Weekly, Japanese Trade Balance (Feb), Comments from ECB's Nagel, and Supply from the US.Read the full report covering Equities, Forex, Fixed Income, Commodites and more on Newsquawk

Last time we spoke about the Soviet-Japanese neutrality pact. In the summer of 1939, the Nomonhan Incident escalated into a major clash along the Halha River, where Soviet-Mongolian forces under Georgy Zhukov decisively defeated Japan's Kwantung Army. Zhukov's offensive, launched on August 20, involved intense artillery, bombers, and encirclement tactics, annihilating the Japanese 23rd Division and exposing weaknesses in Japanese mechanized warfare. The defeat, coinciding with the Hitler-Stalin Nonaggression Pact, forced Japan to negotiate a ceasefire on September 15-16, redrawing borders and deterring further northern expansion. Stalin navigated negotiations with Britain, France, and Germany to avoid a two-front war, ultimately signing the German-Soviet pact on August 23, which secured Soviet neutrality in Europe while addressing eastern threats. Post-Nomonhan, Soviet-Japanese relations warmed rapidly: fishing disputes were resolved, ambassadors exchanged, and the Chinese Eastern Railway sale finalized. By 1941, a neutrality pact was concluded, allowing Japan to pivot southward toward China and Southeast Asia.   #193 The Chiang-Wang Divide Welcome to the Fall and Rise of China Podcast, I am your dutiful host Craig Watson. But, before we start I want to also remind you this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Perhaps you want to learn more about the history of Asia? Kings and Generals have an assortment of episodes on history of asia and much more  so go give them a look over on Youtube. So please subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry for some more history related content, over on my channel, the Pacific War Channel where I cover the history of China and Japan from the 19th century until the end of the Pacific War. After that lengthy mini series covering the battle of Khalkin Gol, we need to venture back into the second sino-japanese war, however like many other colossal events….well a lot was going on simultaneously. I wanted to take an episode to talk about the beginning of something known as the Reorganized National Government of the Republic of China, or much shorter, the Wang Jingwei Regime. It's been quite some time since we spoke about this character and he is a large part of the second sino-japanese war.    After the fall of Tianjin and Beiping, the government offices in Nanjing entered their annual summer recess. All of GMD's senior leadership, from Chiang Kai-shek down to Wang Jingwei, gathered on Mount Lu, a picturesque resort in northern Jiangxi, south of the Yangtze, famed for cliffs, clouds, and summer villas. Although Chiang had visited Mount Lu every summer, this was the first occasion that nearly the entire central government assembled there. Analysts suspected the gathering was a deliberate move to relocate government functions inland in the event of total war. Dozens of the nation's leading intellectuals were invited to Mount Lu to discuss strategies for countering Japan's ambitions. The forum was scheduled to begin on July 15 and to last twenty-seven days in three phases. The bridge incident caught them off guard. Unlike Manchuria, Beiping had long been the nation's capital, and the shock added urgency to the proceedings. When the forum, chaired by Wang, finally opened on July 16, speculation ran as to whether this signaled another regional conflict or the onset of full-scale war. The media pressed for a resolute stance of resistance from the government. To dispel the mounting confusion and perhaps his own indecision, Chiang delivered a solemn speech on July 17, declaring that if the incident could not be resolved peacefully, China would face the "crucial juncture" of national survival and would consider military action; if war began, every Chinese person, from every corner of the country and from every walk of life, would have to sacrifice all to defend the nation.   Chiang's Mount Lu Speech was now commonly regarded as the moment when China publicly proclaimed its firm commitment to resistance. Contemporary observers, however, did not take Chiang's stance at face value. Tao Xisheng, a Peking University law professor who had been invited, recalled that after the speech, people gathered in Hu Shi's room to discuss whether a peace option remained. Chiang left the mountain on July 20, leaving Wang to chair the conference. The discussions continued upon their return to Nanjing, where a National Defense Conference was organized in mid-August. It was also Tao's first encounter with Wang Jingwei. A "peace faction," largely composed of civil officials and intellectuals, began to take shape around Wang, favoring diplomatic solutions over costly and potentially ineffective military action.   During this period, both Chiang and Wang publicly called for resistance, while both harbored hopes for a peaceful solution. Yet their emphases differed. On July 29, Wang Jingwei delivered a radio address from Nanjing titled "The Critical Juncture," echoing Chiang's slogan. He likewise asserted that after repeated concessions and retreats, the critical juncture had come for China to rise against Japan. It would be a harsh form of resistance, since a weak nation had no alternative but to sacrifice every citizen's life and scorch every inch of land. Yet toward the end, Wang's speech took on an ironic turn. He stated, "The so-called resistance demands sacrificing the whole land and the whole nation to resist the invader. If there is no weakness in the world, then there is also no strength. Once we have completed the sacrifice, we also realize the purpose of resistance. We hail 'the critical juncture'! We hail 'sacrifice'!" The sentiment sounded almost satirical, revealing his doubt about the meaning of total sacrifice.   The hope for containment was crushed by Japan's ongoing advances. On November 12, Shanghai fell. Chiang's gamble produced about 187,200 Chinese casualties, including roughly 30,000 officers trained to German standards. Japanese casualties were estimated at a third to a half of the Chinese losses, still making it their deadliest single battle to date. The battered Japanese Imperial Army and Navy, long convinced of their invincibility, were consumed by vengeful bloodlust. The army swept from Shanghai toward Nanjing, leaving a trail of murder, rape, arson, and plunder across China's heartland.   With the fall of Nanjing looming, the central government announced on November 20 that it would relocate to Chongqing, a city upriver on the Yangtze protected by sheer cliffs. Plans for Chongqing as a reserve capital had already begun in 1935, with Hankou as the midway station. To preserve elite troops for the future while saving face, Nanjing was entrusted to General Tang Shengzhi and his roughly one hundred thousand largely inexperienced soldiers. Nanjing fell on December 13. Despite this victory, Japan's hopes of ending the China Incident within three months were dashed. The carnage produced by the war, especially the Rape of Nanjing, left a profound moral stain on humanity. A mass exodus from the coastal provinces toward the hinterland began. People fled by boats, trains, buses, rickshaws, and wheelbarrows. Universities, factories, and ordinary households were moved halfway across China, step by step. The nation resolved to persevere, even in distant mountains and deserts if necessary. In Sichuan alone, government relief agencies officially registered about 9.2 million refugees during the war years.   Chiang Kai-shek, after paying respects at Sun Yat-sen's mausoleum, flew to Mount Lu with Song Meiling. The so-called Second Couple chose a more modest path: like most refugees, the Wang family traveled upriver along the Yangtze. On November 21, they left Nanjing, abandoning a recently renovated suburban home and thirty years of collected books. Coincidentally, the ship carrying Wang Jingwei from Nanjing to Wuhan was SS Yongsui, the former SS Zhongshan that had escorted Sun Yat-sen to safety and witnessed Wang's ascent and subsequent downfall from power. Ironically renamed "Yong-sui," the ship's new title meant "peace," while the compound term suijing denoted a policy of appeasement. This symbolism—Wang being carried away from Nanjing by a ship named "Eternal Peace"—foreshadowed his eventual return to the city as a champion of a "peace movement."   After the Mount Lu Forum, Hu Shi and Tao Xisheng could not return to Beiping, now under Japanese occupation. They joined the government in Nanjing. Beginning in mid-August, Japanese bombers began attacking Nanjing. Air power—an unprecedented weapon of mass destruction—humbled and awed a Chinese public largely unfamiliar with airborne warfare. By striking a target that did not serve its immediate interests, Japan demonstrated its world-class military might and employed psychological warfare against the Chinese government and people. Because Zhou Fohai's villa at Xiliuwan had a fortified cellar suitable as an air-raid shelter, a group of like-minded intellectuals and civil servants sought refuge there. They preferred a peaceful approach to the conflict, subscribing to the idea of trading space for time—building China's industrial and military capabilities before confronting Japan. Tao Xisheng and Mei Siping, old allies of Zhou Fohai, lived in his house. Another frequent guest was Luo Junqiang, an ex-communist. The former CCP leader Chen Duxiu, recently released from prison, joined their gatherings a few times. Gao Zongwu hosted another meeting site. Hu Shi, as a guest himself, jokingly called this circle the "Low-Key Club" (Didiao julebu), a label that underscored their pragmatic defiance of the government's high-flown rhetoric urging all-out resistance. Many members of this group would later become central figures in a conspiracy known as the "peace movement," with Wang Jingwei as its leader and emblem.   As Gerald Bunker noted, the peace scheme did not originate with Wang but with certain associates of Chiang, elements in Japanese military intelligence, and members of liberal-minded Japanese political circles who were linked to Konoe. Zhou Fohai belonged to the Chiang-loyalist CC faction, named for Chen Guofu and Chen Lifu. Zhou believed that resistance under current conditions was suicidal. He sought to influence Chiang through people around him, including Wang Jingwei, whom he found impressionable and began visiting at Wang's salon. Gao Zongwu, head of the Foreign Ministry's Asian Department, felt sidelined by Chiang's uncompromising stance. They shared the sense that Chiang might be willing to talk but feared the price, perhaps his own leadership. They were dismayed by the lack of a long-range war plan beyond capitulation. Their view was that China's battlefield losses would worsen the terms of any settlement, and that the war's outcome seemed to benefit Soviet Russia and undermine the GMD more than China itself. The rapid collapses of Shanghai and then Nanjing vindicated their pessimism. Chiang's autocratic decision-making only deepened their dissatisfaction. They feared China was again at risk of foreign conquest from which it might not recover.   Wang Jingwei became the focal point for these disaffected individuals, drawn by his pacifist leanings, intellectual temperament, and preference for consensus-building. After the government relocated to Hankou, he lent guidance to the Literature and Art Research Society (Yiwen yanjiu hui), a propagandist body led by Zhou Fohai and Tao Xisheng. Its purpose was to steer public opinion on issues like the war of resistance and anticommunism, and to advocate a stance that the government must preserve both peace and war as options. Many believed it to be Wang's private organization; in truth, Chiang supported its activities. For much of 1938, Chiang's belligerent anti-Japanese rhetoric and Wang's conciliatory push were two sides of the GMD's broader strategy.   Among the society's regional branches, the Hong Kong chapter flourished under Mei Siping and Lin Baisheng. In addition to editing South China Daily News, Lin established Azure Books and the International Compilation and Translation Society (Guoji bianyishe) as primary propaganda organs. Ironically, Mei Siping had himself been a radical during the 1919 student protests, when he helped set fire to the deputy foreign minister's house in protest of perceived capitulation to Japan.   Wang Jingwei also actively engaged in international efforts to broker peace between Japan and China, including Trautmann's mediation by the German ambassador. Since the outbreak of war, various Western powers had contemplated serving as mediators, but none succeeded. Nazi Germany, aligned with Japan in an anti-Soviet partnership, emerged as China's most likely ally because it did not want Japan to squander its strength in China or compel China to seek Soviet help. Conversely, Japan's interest lay in prolonging the war or achieving a swift settlement. Ambassador Trautmann met with Wang Jingwei multiple times from October 31 to early November 1937 to confirm China's preference for peace before negotiating with Japan. The proposal Trautmann carried to Chiang Kai-shek on November 5 proposed terms including autonomy for Inner Mongolia, a larger demilitarized zone in North China, an expanded cease-fire around Shanghai, a halt to anti-Japanese movements, an anti-communist alliance, reduced tariffs on Japanese goods, and protection of foreign interests in China. Although Japan did not specify territorial gains, these terms deviated significantly from Chiang's demand to restore pre–Marco Polo Bridge status. After Shanghai fell, Chiang's rigidity softened.   On December 5, at Hankou, the National Defense Conference agreed to begin peace negotiations based on Trautmann's terms, a decision Chiang approved. But it was too late: Nanjing fell on December 13, and a provisional Beiping government led by Wang Kemin was established, signaling Japan's growing support for regional separatism. On December 24, Japan issued an ultimatum for a harsher deal to be accepted by January 10. In response, Chiang resigned as chairman of the Executive Yuan on January 1, 1938, and was succeeded by his brother-in-law Kong Xiangxi. Chiang declared that death in defeat was preferable to death in disgrace and refused to yield under coercion. The Konoe Cabinet announced on January 16 that Japan would not negotiate with Chiang Kai-shek. Trautmann's mediation had failed.   After Konoe's announcement, mediation became even more precarious, as it placed the already deadly, no-win situation between the two nations in deeper jeopardy. Secret contacts between the two governments persisted through multiple channels—sometimes at the direction of their own leaders, other times at the initiative of a cadre of officials and quasi-official figures of dubious legitimacy. Many of these covert efforts were steered by Chiang himself. In late 1937, Wang Jingwei even sent Chen Gongbo to Rome to explore the possibility of Italian mediation between China and Japan. After meetings with Mussolini and Foreign Minister Ciano, Chen concluded that Italy had no genuine goodwill toward China and favored Japan. His conversations with other Western leaders (Belgium, France, Britain, and the United States) proved equally fruitless. In diaries, Zhou Fohai and Chen Kewen recorded a pervasive mood of pessimism among Hankou and Chongqing's national government factions. Although direct champions of negotiating with Japan were few, many voices insisted that China was on the brink of collapse while secretly hoping peace talks would begin soon. Gao Zongwu's mission emerged from this tense atmosphere.   With Konoe's cabinet refusing to negotiate with Chiang Kai-shek, many regarded Wang as the best candidate to carry forward a diplomatic solution. Yet Wang remained convinced of his loyalty to Chiang and to Chiang's policy. The Italian ambassador visited Wuhan to offer mediation between Wang and the Japanese government, an invitation Wang declined. Tang Shaoyi's daughter traveled to Wuhan to convey Tokyo's negotiation intent, but was similarly turned away. Even Chen Bijun, then in Hong Kong, urged Wang to join her and start peace negotiations; he again declined. Tao Xisheng remembered a quiet night when Wang confided in him: "This time I will cooperate with Mr. Chiang until the very end, regardless of how the war unfolds." His stance did not change when Gao Zongwu reported that the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff Office wanted him to head the peace talks.   Gao Zongwu's bid was brokered by Dong Daoning, head of the Japan Affairs Section in the Foreign Ministry. Shortly after Konoe's statement, Dong traveled to Shanghai to meet Nishi Yoshiaki, representative of Mantetsu, and Matsumoto Shigeharu, a Dōmei News Agency journalist. Nishi and Matsumoto then introduced Dong to Kagesa Sadaaki, head of the Strategy and Tactics Department in the General Staff Office. Kagesa introduced Dong to Deputy Director Tada Hayao and colleagues Ishiwara Kanji and Imai Takeo, who agreed that a peaceful resolution to the China crisis aligned with Japan's interests. It would be inaccurate to paint these figures as pacifists: Ishiwara, who helped build Manchukuo, also recognized that further incursions into China could jeopardize Japan's hard-won gains. They proposed a temporary resignation by Chiang to spare Konoe from having to retract his refusal to negotiate, thereby allowing Wang to lead the talks. In short, the scheme aimed to save face for Konoe.   Dong returned to Hong Kong and delivered the proposal to Gao Zongwu, who had been stationed there since February under Chiang's orders to oversee intelligence and liaison with Japan. Luo Junqiang, Gao's contact, testified that Gao was paid monthly from Chiang's secret military fund. Gao went back to Hankou twice, on April 2 and May 30. On the second trip, he personally conveyed Japan's terms to Chiang. Gao later admitted that Chiang never gave him explicit instructions, but rather cultivated an impression of tacit approval. At no point did Gao view the deal as Chiang's betrayal. As long as Chiang retained control of the military, Wang's leadership could only be nominal and temporary. Unbeknownst to Wang, Gao's personal ties to Chiang remained hidden from him; he learned of them only through Zhou Fohai. Startled, he handed the information to Chiang Kai-shek and told Tao Xisheng: "I cannot broker peace with Japan alone. I will not deceive Mr. Chiang." Given Tao's later departure from Wang's circle to rejoin Chiang, Tao's recollection could be trusted.   Two months later, Wang left Chongqing to pursue a peace settlement. A key factor may have been persistent lobbying by Zhou, Gao, Mei, Tao, and especially his wife Chen Bijun. Luo Junqiang recalled that Kong Xiangxi objected that Gao acted without him, prompting Chiang to order Gao to halt his covert efforts, an order Gao ignored. Gao and Mei Siping continued to press for a deal. Gao even spent three weeks in Japan in July, holding extensive talks with Kagesa Sadaaki and Imai Takeo. Their discussions produced the first substantive articulation of the Wang peace movement as a Sino-Japanese plot to end the "China incident." On November 26, Mei flew from Hong Kong to Chongqing with a draft of Japan's terms and Konoe's planned announcement. The proposal stated that the Japanese army would withdraw completely within two years once peace was reached, but it demanded that China formally recognize Manchukuo. Wang was to leave Chongqing for Kunming by December 5, then proceed to Hanoi. Upon Japan receiving news of his arrival in Hanoi, the telegram would reveal the peace terms. This pivotal moment threw Wang into intense inner turmoil. Zhou Fohai visited Wang daily, and Wang delayed decisively each time, much to Zhou's frustration. Ultimately, it seemed that Chen Bijun rendered the final judgment on Wang's behalf. As in earlier episodes, Wang found himself trapped by an idealized image of himself held by family, followers, and loyalists, seen by them as a larger-than-life figure who must undertake a mission too grand to fail.   Yet Wang's stance was not purely involuntary. As Imai Takeo noted, he fundamentally disagreed with Chiang's strategy of resistance. The so-called scorched-earth approach caused immense suffering. Three episodes stood out: the 1938 Yellow River flood, ordered by Chiang to impede Japan's advance, which destroyed dikes and displaced millions, yielding devastating agricultural and humanitarian consequences; the subsequent epidemics and famine that followed, producing about two million refugees and up to nine hundred thousand deaths, while failing to stop the Japanese advance toward Wuhan (which fell in October); and the Changsha fire, ignited in the early hours of November 13, which killed nearly thirty thousand people and devastated most of the city. These events sharpened Wang's doubts about Chiang's defense strategy, especially its reckless execution and cruelty. By late November, Wang began to openly challenge Chiang's approach, delivering a series of speeches advocating his own war-weariness and preference for limiting resistance to preserve national strength for future counterstrikes. He argued that guerrilla warfare burdened the people and wasted national resources that could be saved for a later, more effective defense. He urged soldiers to exercise judgment and listen to their consciences, and he attributed much of the civilian suffering to the Communists; nonetheless, with General von Falkenhausen, Chiang's German adviser, now urging a shift toward smaller-unit mobile warfare, Wang's critique of Chiang's strategy took on a more pointed, risksome tone. If resistance equaled total sacrifice, Wang was not prepared to endorse it. As Margherita Zanasi noted, Wang Jingwei and Chen Gongbo had long shared a vision of a self-consciously anti-imperial "national economy", the belief that China's economy had not yet achieved genuine nation-power and that compromising with the foe might be necessary to save the national economy.   Wang and Zhou also worried that continuing resistance would strengthen the Communists and that genuine international aid would not arrive, at least not soon. After Nazi Germany occupied Czechoslovakia, Wang briefly hoped for the formation of an antifascist democratic alliance. Yet the Munich Agreement disappointed him. Viewing Western democracies as culturally imperialist, he doubted they would jeopardize their relations with Japan, another imperial power, on China's behalf. This view was reinforced by Zhou Fohai and other China specialists who had recently joined Wang's circle; they argued that China would fall unless the international situation shifted dramatically. Their forecast would prove accurate only after Pearl Harbor.   In the end, Wang longed for decisive action. He had been sidelined since the government's move to Wuhan. At the GMD Provisional National Congress in Hankou (March 29–April 1), the party resolved to restore Chiang Kai-shek to near-total control by reasserting the authoritarian zongcai system. The Congress also established the People's Political Council as a nominal nod to democracy, but it remained largely consultative. Wang was elected deputy director and chairman of the council, yet he clearly resented the position. Jiang Tingfu described Wang's Hankou mood as "somewhat resentful," recognizing the role as largely ceremonial. More optimistic observers attributed his dismay to the return of dictatorship, and he likely felt increasingly useless. Since the Mukden Incident, Wang had prioritized party unity and been content to play a secondary role to Chiang, but inaction did not fit his sense of historical purpose. It was Zhou Fohai who urged Wang to risk his reputation for a greater cause, presenting a calculated nudge to someone susceptible to idealism. A longing to find meaning through action may have finally pushed him toward a fateful decision. As Chen Bijun bluntly told Long Yun, her husband "was merely an empty shell in Chongqing and could contribute nothing to the country; thus he wanted to change his surroundings."   Wang considered staying abroad as a serious option amid the Hanoi uncertainty. Gao Zongwu had previously told Japanese negotiators that if Konoe's stance did not satisfy Wang, he might head to France. Chongqing echoed this possibility. On December 29, Ambassador Guo Taiqi, acting on Chiang's orders, telegraphed Wang suggesting he go to Europe "to take a break." It would have offered a graceful exit. Kagesa recommended Hanoi as Wang Jingwei's midway station because, as a French colony, it offered a relatively safe environment. Only the French were armed there, and several members of the extended Wang family had grown up in France, enabling them to communicate with the colonial authorities.   After Wang departed for Hanoi, Long Yun hesitated for weeks. On December 20, he telegraphed Chiang, saying Wang had paused in Kunming on the way to Hanoi to seek medical treatment. Knowing this was untrue, Chiang replied on December 27 with a stern warning about Japan's unreliability, a message that appeared to have persuaded Long. A day later, Long urged leniency for Wang. Following Wang's publication of the "yan telegram," public anger likely pushed Long toward a final decision. On January 6, he informed Chiang of a letter from Wang delivered by Chen Changzu, and he noted that the Wangs were considering the French option, but recommended allowing Wang to return to Chongqing to show leniency and to enable surveillance.   Chiang replied two days later that Wang would be better off going to Europe. The extended Wang family resided in two Western-style mansions at 25 and 27 Rue Riz Marché, surrounded by high walls. On February 15, Chongqing's envoy Gu Zhengding brought their passports to Hanoi. Accounts differed on what happened next. One version had Wang offering to travel abroad if Chongqing accepted his proposal to start peace talks; if Chongqing remained indecisive, he would return to voice his dissent. Another version claimed Gu's primary task was to bring Wang back to Chongqing, which Wang declined, preferring France.   Although the French option was gaining favor, the Wang circle continued to explore other avenues. In early 1939, secret contacts with the Japanese government persisted, though not always in a coordinated way. Chiang's intelligence advised that the Wang group was forming networks in Shanghai and especially Hong Kong, with Gao Zongwu playing a central role. On February 1, Gao returned from Hong Kong and stayed for five days, finding Wang in a despondent mood. Wang asked Gao to pass along a few letters to Japanese leaders urging the creation of a unified Chinese government to earn the Chinese people's understanding and trust. Wang believed his actions would serve the best interests of both China and Japan. On March 18, the Japanese consulate in Hong Kong informed Gao that funding for the Wang group would come from China's customs revenues that Japan had seized.   Meanwhile, Chiang Kai-shek sensed a shift in the war's direction. On February 10, Japan seized Hainan, China's southernmost major island. The next day, Chiang held a press conference describing the development as "the Mukden Incident of the Pacific." He warned that Japan's ambitions could threaten British and French colonial interests and U.S. maritime supremacy. Gao Zongwu read the speech and concluded that Chiang's outlook had brightened.   For three months, the Wang circle met frequently to weigh options. The prominent writer and scholar Zhou Zuoren, who had already accepted a collaborationist post as head of the Beiping library, warned Tao Xisheng, saying "Don't do it," signaling his misgivings about collaborating with Japan based on his reading of Japanese politics. As Zhou observed, many young Japanese militarists did not even respect General Ugaki, let alone a foreign leader.   Then the assassination of Zeng Zhongming, Wang's secretary and protégé, abruptly altered the meaning of Wang's mission. The Wang group was deeply unsettled by Zeng Zhongming's assassination. The event came as a shock. On March 20, Gu Zhengding's second Hanoi visit concluded. Allegedly Gu delivered passports and funds for a European excursion. On a bright spring day, the entire Wang family enjoyed a lighthearted outing to Three Peaches Beach, only to be halted by a French officer who warned they were being followed. During their afternoon rest, a man posing as a painter, sent by the landlord to measure rooms for payment, appeared at the door and was turned away when he insisted on entering every room. More than twenty people in the household, none were armed.   Since January, Hanoi had been a hive of BIS activity. The ringleader was Chen Gongshu, a veteran operative under spymaster Dai Li, though Chen's recollections clashed with those of other witnesses, leaving the exact sequence unclear. Chen claimed their role was intelligence and surveillance until March 19, when an unsigned telegram from Dai Li ordered, "Severest punishment to the traitor Wang Jingwei, immediately!" The mission supposedly shifted. The Wang family was followed the next day but evaded capture in traffic, prompting a raid on the house. Reports varied: some said Wang resided on the second floor of No. 27; others suggested he lived in No. 25, with No. 27 used for day guests. The force entered the courtyard, forced open the door to Wang's room, and a getaway car waited outside. Chen, in the car, heard gunshots: initial shots toward a downstairs figure, then three shots through a bedroom door hacked open with an axe, aimed at a figure beneath the bed, believed to be Wang Jingwei. The team drove off after four to five minutes. Vietnamese police soon detained three killers who lingered in the courtyard and even listened in on a hospital call. Chen didn't realize the target had been misidentified until the next afternoon. Some BIS records suggested Wang and Zeng Zhongming had swapped bedrooms that night, a detail Chen doubted. Chen did not mention a painter's earlier visit.   There were competing accounts of the event with their numerous inconsistencies that fueled conspiracy theories. Jin Xiongbai outlined three possibilities: (1) the killers killed the "wrong person" as a warning to Wang Jingwei; (2) they killed Zeng to provoke Wang toward collaboration; or (3) the episode was always part of a broader Chiang-Wang collaboration plan.   In any case, Dai Li showed unusual leniency toward Chen Gongshu, who was never punished and later led the Shanghai station. After Dai Li's agent Li Shiqun was captured in 1941, Li not only spared Chen's life but recruited him on a double-agent basis for the remainder of the war, with Chen retiring to Taiwan. Chiang Kai-shek never discussed the case publicly or in his diary, and his silence was perhaps the strongest indication that he ordered the killing.   I would like to take this time to remind you all that this podcast is only made possible through the efforts of Kings and Generals over at Youtube. Please go subscribe to Kings and Generals over at Youtube and to continue helping us produce this content please check out www.patreon.com/kingsandgenerals. If you are still hungry after that, give my personal channel a look over at The Pacific War Channel at Youtube, it would mean a lot to me. Wang Jingwei, once a key figure in China's resistance against Japan, grew disillusioned with Chiang Kai-shek's scorched-earth tactics during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Amid devastating events like the Yellow River flood and Changsha fire, which caused immense civilian suffering, Wang joined a peace faction advocating negotiation. Secret talks with Japanese officials led to his defection in 1938. He fled Chongqing to Hanoi, where an assassination attempt, likely ordered by Chiang, killed his secretary Zeng Zhongming instead.   

March, 8 2026, 7 AM; Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia said they are continuing to fight off Iranian drone and missile attacks. The UAE says Iran has fired 16 ballistic missiles and 117 drones in new barrages. Iran's Foreign Ministry said its defensive operations against U.S. military bases in the region will continue, but the attacks should not be construed as hostility toward neighboring countries. Nancy Youssef, Meghan O'Sullivan, and Jon Finer join The Weekend to discuss the going war in the region. For more, follow us on social media: Bluesky: @theweekendmsnow.bsky.social Instagram: @theweekendmsnow TikTok: @theweekendmsnow To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

A round-up of the main headlines in Sweden on March 2nd 2026. You can hear more reports on our homepage www.radiosweden.se, or in the app Sveriges Radio. Presenter/Producer: Kris Boswell.

Ali Velshi continues MS NOW's special coverage of U.S. and Israelis military strikes against Iran; America's adversarial history with Iran goes back decades; and the spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry calls the U.S.-led attacks an “unwarranted act of aggression.” To listen to this show and other MS podcasts without ads, sign up for MS NOW Premium on Apple Podcasts. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Cormac Smith has worked in Public Relations and Corporate Communications for over three decades. In 2016 he traveled to Ukraine to take up a special appointment as the ‘Strategic Communication Advisor' to Pavlo Klimkin, then the Foreign Minister of Ukraine. He was attached to the British Embassy in Kyiv but was embedded in Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the first foreigner to hold such a position. While in Kyiv, he also advised and provided training for five other government ministries and worked directly with three other cabinet ministers: Health, Education and the Deputy Prime Minister. ----------LINKS:https://defencebrink.uk/https://x.com/CormacS63https://x.com/philipingmbe----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformation----------A REQUEST FOR HELP!I'm heading back to Kyiv this week, to film, do research and conduct interviews. The logistics and need for equipment and clothing are a little higher than for my previous trips. It will be cold, and may be dark also. If you can, please assist to ensure I can make this trip a success. My commitment to the audience of the channel, will be to bring back compelling interviews conducted in Ukraine, and to use the experience to improve the quality of the channel, it's insights and impact. Let Ukraine and democracy prevail! https://buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtain/extrashttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.gofundme.com/f/scaling-up-campaign-to-fight-authoritarian-disinformationNONE OF THIS CAN HAPPEN WITHOUT YOU!So what's next? We're going to Kyiv in January 2026 to film on the ground, and will record interviews with some huge guests. We'll be creating opportunities for new interviews, and to connect you with the reality of a European city under escalating winter attack, from an imperialist, genocidal power. PLEASE HELP ME ME TO GROW SILICON CURTAINWe are planning our events for 2026, and to do more and have a greater impact. After achieving more than 12 events in 2025, we will aim to double that! 24 events and interviews on the ground in Ukraine, to push back against weaponized information, toxic propaganda and corrosive disinformation. Please help us make it happen!----------TRUSTED CHARITIES ON THE GROUND:Save Ukrainehttps://www.saveukraineua.org/Superhumans - Hospital for war traumashttps://superhumans.com/en/UNBROKEN - Treatment. Prosthesis. Rehabilitation for Ukrainians in Ukrainehttps://unbroken.org.ua/Come Back Alivehttps://savelife.in.ua/en/Chefs For Ukraine - World Central Kitchenhttps://wck.org/relief/activation-chefs-for-ukraineUNITED24 - An initiative of President Zelenskyyhttps://u24.gov.ua/Serhiy Prytula Charity Foundationhttps://prytulafoundation.orgNGO “Herojam Slava”https://heroiamslava.org/kharpp - Reconstruction project supporting communities in Kharkiv and Przemyślhttps://kharpp.com/NOR DOG Animal Rescuehttps://www.nor-dog.org/home/----------DESCRIPTION:Cormac Smith on Ukraine: Why “As Long As It Takes” Is Not a StrategyJonathan interviews communications veteran Cormac Smith, formerly embedded in Ukraine's Foreign Ministry as a strategic communications adviser, on the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion. Smith argues the West should have said “with Ukraine until they win,” criticizing “as long as it takes” as planless and enabling slow-walked, constrained military aid and excessive fear of Putin's nuclear threats. ----------

From the BBC World Service: One of Europe's busiest airports has canceled more than 700 flights today as a disruption caused by snow and ice enters a sixth day. The problem was made worse because of a shortage of anti-freeze for de-icing planes at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam. Dutch airline KLM is the main one affected. Then, China's Foreign Ministry said President Donald Trump's demands for Venezuela's oil were "typical bullying" from the U.S.

Watch The X22 Report On Video No videos found (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:17532056201798502,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-9437-3289"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");pt> Click On Picture To See Larger PictureThe [CB] is panicking, Trump is now reversing their entire system, The D’s have no choice but to fold and go along with Trump’s no tax on tips etc, they resisted but the people complained, this will not work out well for them. Trump is now lowering the fuel prices by unleashing Venezuela’s oil, this will be used to go against the [DS]. Trump is in the process of dismantling the [DS], Venezuela has been released from the [DS] grasp. Maduro was arrested and brought to the US to stand trial. Maduro will most likely assist with the overthrow of the US government in 2020. The flow of money, training of terrorist happened in Venezuela, it is all coming to an end, soon the other countries will fall and the people will take them back. The world is being returned to the people. Economy (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:18510697282300316,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-8599-9832"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="https://cdn2.decide.dev/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs"); Kathy Hochul Caves On ‘No Tax On Tips’ Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill made a straightforward promise: more money in workers' pockets. The plan eliminated the federal tax on tips and overtime pay for linemen and factory workers, and created a new deduction for seniors relying on Social Security. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called it “the most pro-worker, pro-family legislation in a generation.”   several blue-state governors were refusing to reciprocate by eliminating state taxes on tips, including Govs. Kathy Hochul (D-N.Y.), J.B. Pritzker (D-Ill.), and Jared Polis (D-Colo.). Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent accused them of “deliberately blocking their own residents” from the bill's benefits at the state level. Bessent made clear that states that refused to comply with the law should expect consequences. “Treasury stands ready to work with any state committed to delivering on that promise, but we will not stand idly by as this obstructionism drags down the national recovery,” he said. “This is about fairness. This is about opportunity. And this is about putting America first, starting with the families and workers who make our economy the envy of the world.” Kathy Hochul has now caved. On New Year's Day, she announced that New York will finally move to exempt service workers' tips from state income taxes on up to $25,000 in tipped income.   “Starting today, tax rates for the vast majority of lower and middle-class New Yorkers will be cut, families with children will see a sweeping increase in the child tax credit, and minimum wage workers across the state will see their wages go up. I'm kicking the new year off with a proposal of no state income tax on tips, continuing my efforts to make New York more affordable for hard working New Yorkers.” The change comes only after months of outrage from restaurant owners and service workers who accused Albany of putting politics ahead of paychecks. Service industry workers noticed and called it a slap in the face to people barely scraping by in such an expensive state.   Source: zerohedge.com https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2007496574889537687?s=20 https://twitter.com/KobeissiLetter/status/2007500910277325260?s=20 https://twitter.com/TKL_Adam/status/2007468568619696559?s=20  damaged last night. On top of this, President Trump says the US will be “very much involved” in Venezuela’s oil industry going forward and China is “going to get oil.” In 2010, Venezuela was producing over 3 million barrels of oil per day, now down to ~900,000. If the US truly takes control of Venezuela’s oil industry, MUCH more supply is coming to market. Oil and gas prices would head much lower. Geopolitical https://twitter.com/KatieMiller/status/2007541679293944266?s=20 https://twitter.com/JoeBiden/status/1274910217508196352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1274910217508196352%7Ctwgr%5E7e79690e7ff94a98319d1a5f7cef15f68e12ceb9%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fjoe-bidens-old-tweet-claiming-trump-admires-thugs%2F https://twitter.com/willchamberlain/status/2007652410077086175?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2007652410077086175%7Ctwgr%5Ee26360c03ca670b2e4da2b86849c02fab10ca741%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fjust-kamala-harris-gets-lit-up-x-after%2F Panamanian dictator Manuel Noriega surrendered to U.S. forces on January 3, 1990, after seeking refuge for 10 days in the Vatican’s embassy (Papal Nunciature) in Panama City.  This event marked the end of Operation Just Cause, the U.S. invasion of Panama that began on December 20, 1989, under President George H.W. Bush, aimed at deposing Noriega and bringing him to face U.S. charges of drug trafficking, money laundering, and racketeering.  To pressure Noriega into surrendering, U.S. psychological operations teams blasted loud rock music—including tracks like Guns N’ Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle,” Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It,” and Van Halen’s “Panama”—at the embassy nonstop, contributing to his decision to give up.   He was immediately flown to Miami, where he stood trial, was convicted in 1992, and initially sentenced to 40 years in prison (later reduced).  After serving time in the U.S., Noriega was extradited to France in 2010 for money laundering charges, and finally to Panama in 2011 to face additional sentences for murder, corruption, and human rights abuses during his rule.   He died in Panama in 2017 while under house arrest for medical reasons.   The invasion itself involved around 25,000 U.S. troops, resulting in 23 American deaths, hundreds wounded, and estimates of 200–4,000 Panamanian civilian casualties, drawing international criticism despite achieving its primary objective. https://twitter.com/BillAckman/status/2007796748631314839?s=20 https://twitter.com/bennyjohnson/status/2007549887098040495?s=20  https://twitter.com/CynicalPublius/status/2007518675641983427?s=20   advance. Trump Admin's Top Secret Maduro Military Operation Plans Reportedly Leaked To Legacy Media Outlets Despite an unidentified party leaking plans of the Trump administration's top secret military operation targeting Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela to both The New York Times and the Washington Post, neither publication decided to expose it, Semafor reported Saturday night. Two anonymous sources, described as familiar with the communication between the administration and media outlets, told Semafor that both outlets declined to break the news on the operation before it happened out of concern for U.S. troops involved. The military incursion, carried out early Saturday, resulted in the capture and ouster of socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro, whom a grand jury later indicted on four charges, including narco-terrorism conspiracy. The identity of the leaker or leakers was not made public as of Sunday morning. Source: dailycaller.com https://twitter.com/ElectionWiz/status/2007811723013603611?s=20 Russia, China Demand That US Immediately Release Maduro From Custody Within mere hours after President Trump announced the Saturday capture by US forces of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife after a brief shock bombing campaign and special forces operation in Caracas, Russia has demanded from Washington his immediate release. “We firmly call on the U.S. leadership to reconsider this position and release the lawfully elected president of a sovereign country and his wife,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement, and described that the crisis should be resolved through diplomatic means. “Russia will continue to support the course pursued by its Bolivarian leadership to defend the country’s national interests and sovereignty,” the Foreign Ministry said, while also calling for restraint and cautioning against further escalation. China has joined Moscow’s calls for the immediate release of Maduro from US custody: China has called on the United States to immediately releaaljazeera.com/…/china-urges-us-to-stop-toppling-venezuelan-government-release-madurose Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro after Washington carried out massive military strikes on the capital, Caracas, as well as other regions, and abducted the leader. Beijing on Sunday insisted the safety of Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores be a priority, and called on the US to “stop toppling the government of Venezuela,” calling the attack a “clear violation of international law“. https://twitter.com/alaynatreene/status/2007491168389525809?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2007491168389525809%7Ctwgr%5E1cec862879fed0a0919d0a99238a33d07975d1bb%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.zerohedge.com%2Fgeopolitical%2Frussia-china-demand-us-immediately-release-venezuelas-maduro Source: zerohedge.com China has embedded operational control into critical mineral extraction that feeds weapons manufacturing  Iran has established drone production facilities within strike range of the continental United States. Russia has deployed military advisers and integrated air defense systems in the Caribbean. Venezuela represents the only location where all three adversaries operate simultaneously https://twitter.com/CynicalPublius/status/2007644800779169936?s=20   legitimate, outstanding US drug charges from 2020, the real reason for the military operations early this morning is that neutralizing Maduro’s Venezuela had become a strategic imperative for the USA. Under Maduro, Venezuela had become the Latin American crossroads for all of the USA’s principal enemies. Maduro was nurturing relationships with Russia, Hezbollah and Iran. Worst of all, Venezuela was eagerly becoming a part of Red China’s Belt & Road initiative. As America’s enemies were lining up Venezuela as their base of operations in the Western Hemisphere to cause mischief and destruction for the USA, Maduro was at the same time making Venezuela a crossroads, safe haven and enabler for all manner of narcoterrorist operations, ranging from Colombia’s FARC to Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel. On top of all that, Venezuela had become a key player in the illegal alien invasion of the USA, shipping its very worst to the USA in a deliberate and comprehensive destabilizing operation that might have worked had Donald Trump not won in 2024. Next in importance: oil. The global and regional ambitions of both China and Russia are in large part dependent on the politics of petroleum, and the USA just deprived both of the cudgel afforded by friendly Venezuelan oil. Trump opponents say “It’s about oil” as if that was a bad thing. Yeah, it’s about oil. Finally, all of this was in keeping with the most essential and fundamental foreign policy mandate of the USA almost since the nation’s inception: the Monroe Doctrine. Operations like what Maduro was running simply cannot be allowed in the Western Hemisphere. Trump was right for falling back on this most basic of doctrines that protects the USA’s sovereignty. So was Maduro seized because of some five year-old drug charges? Yes. Legally–yes. However, like so many strategic issues in the world today, an action needed to be backed by the fine points of law, and it was. But the reality is that the Maduro takedown was a Monroe Doctrine-driven necessity that has greatly enhanced the power and national security of the USA. Congratulations, Donald Trump, Marco Rubio, Pete Hegseth and the rest of the Trump national security team: you boldly took the steps necessary to defend the USA. Well done. https://twitter.com/EndWokeness/status/2007597322549469370?s=20  Uh… but what about America 1st!!!!” Dominating our hemisphere is America 1st.  READ: Maduro Indictment Unsealed  https://twitter.com/AGPamBondi/status/2007468832567222274?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E2007468832567222274%7Ctwgr%5Ea380e4654af6dbcd0ced13d78085deb2a2a57e8d%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2026%2F01%2Fread-maduro-indictment-unsealed%2F Read the indictment here. The grand jury indicted Maduro, his wife, Cilia Flores and four others on four counts: Narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy, possession of machine guns and destructive devices, and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices. “Nicolas Maduro Moros, the defendant, now sits atop a corrupt, illegitimate government that, for decades, has leveraged government power to protect and promote illegal activity, including drug trafficking,” the indictment read. “That drug trafficking has enriched and entrenched Venezuela's political and military elite, including Minister of the Interior, Justice and Peace Diosado Cabello Rondon, the defendant, and former Minister of the Interior and Justice Ramon Rodriguez Chachin, the defendant,” the charging document read. The White House absolutely savaged Maduro on Saturday. Source: thegatewaypundit.com https://twitter.com/mrddmia/status/2007459071985676697?s=20 https://twitter.com/CynicalPublius/status/2007412199132934453?s=20   with it. Go America! https://twitter.com/marcorubio/status/2007404924393697601?s=20 https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2007510867307626848?s=20 https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2007503643453559225?s=20 https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2007737447631945888?s=20 https://twitter.com/disclosetv/status/2007759220851327278?s=20 War/Peace https://twitter.com/ElectionWiz/status/2007814479892111690?s=20  Years after he left office, a reflective Barack Obama admitted that he and his administration made a “mistake” in not forcefully supporting an Iranian civilian uprising in 2009 that could have ousted that country's ruing mullahs. Faced with a fresh protest movement 16-plus years later led by street vendors, President Donald Trump has taken the opposite tact in a robust embrace of everyday Iranians that caught the attention of Tehran. If Iran “violently kills peaceful protesters, which is their custom, the United States of America will come to their rescue,” Trump wrote in a 3 a.m. post Friday on his TruthSocial platform. “We are locked and loaded and ready to go.”  The president was not more specific about his intentions, but Iranian dissidents and non-official Trump advisers cheered the statement and said it set the stage for tougher sanctions or other actions by the administration. Interesting Timing – Zelenskyy Planning to Remove Head of the Security Service of Ukraine This is very interesting timing considering the recent denial by Zelenskyy that Ukraine had anything to do with the attack on Russian President Vladimir Putin's residence. According to Politico, Zelenskyy is removing Vasyl Malyuk as head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the state's top counterintelligence agency. Malyuk previously worked with British intelligence on operation “Spiderweb” where Ukrainian drones hit Russia's strategic bombers on several protected airfields (USA not informed). Source: theconservativetreehouse.com [DS] Agenda  President Trump's Plan FBI Thwarts ISIS-Inspired New Year’s Eve Terror Plot In North Carolina The FBI said it foiled an ISIS-inspired New Year's Eve terror attack in North Carolina. Suspect Christian Sturdivant, 18, was arrested on Dec. 31 and charged with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina Russ Ferguson said at a Jan. 2 press conference. Sturdivant appeared in court on Jan. 2. A U.S. citizen, Sturdivant had allegedly planned the attack for about a year, according to Ferguson. A hand-written document titled “The New Year's Eve Attack 2026” was found in Sturdivant's bedroom trash can and included a section labeled, “martyrdom Op,” court papers claim.  Sturdivant read ISIS material online, visited the terrorist group's websites, and made TikTok videos, Ferguson said. Source: zerohedge.com Former CBS Reporter Catherine Herridge Reveals How Executives Delayed Her Reporting On Hunter Biden Laptop Former CBS investigative reporter Catherine Herridge said Thursday CBS News executives postponed airing her reports on the contents of Hunter Biden's laptop. https://twitter.com/C__Herridge/status/2006795554471186519?s=20   always do the story when it’s ready to go. You should not be dictated by the political cycle.” At that time, CBS News was under different management, and did not respond to our questions seeking comment.   Source: dailycaller.com  https://twitter.com/bread_n_caviar/status/2007473725331960305?s=20 how much Jeb Bush is connected to drug trafficking. Here's my Substack article on that subject: https://twitter.com/Rasmussen_Poll/status/2007377888858062869?s=20 https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/2007528129988862028?s=20 is undoing the damage the CIA has been used to do over the last 78 years around the world. The Deep State network is being dismantled. Trump did the same thing with Iran. Who enabled and paid Iran to make nukes? Obama via the Iran Deal. Neutralizing Iran's nuclear capabilities was Trump cleaning up another Deep State mess created by past administrations. Trump knows where all the Deep State assets and proxies are, and he is uprooting them. It's actually happening. Trump is obliterating the Deep State! Maduro a Cartel/Deep State puppet for a while  Wants out  Negotiates exit with Trump  U.S. military extracts him  Trump rugs the Deep State’s regime change op with his own regime change op https://twitter.com/amuse/status/2007682086271103487?s=20   Maduro played a large role in the destabilization efforts, sending drugs and murderous gangs into our country. Is it considered one crime syndicate?   https://twitter.com/TheQNewsPatriot/status/2007662811296731504?s=20 https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/2007516103950414317?s=20   nations and regions that past US administrations have destabilized and destroyed. If there is no instability, the Deep State cannot operate. Therefore, Trump is going to neutralize those causing the instability, ie, the cartels. Trump is essentially undoing the decades of damage caused by the Deep State, and creating a new world the way it should be.  https://twitter.com/WarClandestine/status/2007547290035302659?s=20   MIL in their cities? Now do you see why they have been panicking about the Insurrection Act? The Dems are Deep State puppets just like Maduro. They fear that what just happened to Maduro, is going to happen to them. THEY FEAR THE RECKONING! (function(w,d,s,i){w.ldAdInit=w.ldAdInit||[];w.ldAdInit.push({slot:13499335648425062,size:[0, 0],id:"ld-7164-1323"});if(!d.getElementById(i)){var j=d.createElement(s),p=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];j.async=true;j.src="//cdn2.customads.co/_js/ajs.js";j.id=i;p.parentNode.insertBefore(j,p);}})(window,document,"script","ld-ajs");